Tuesday, March 10, 2015

About 10 Chadian Solders killed In Fight Against Boko Haram

About 10 Chadian soldiers have been killed fighting Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s north-east region.

The Chadian solders died during a major cross-border offensive against the Boko Haram terrorist group by troops from Chad and Niger, a Chadian officer said on Monday.

Reuters reports that the officer, who asked not to be named, also confirmed reports from Niger sources that the joint offensive had freed the border town of Malam Fatouri and Damasak, some 10 km (6 miles) further to the south, which had been previously held by the Boko Haram.

Chad and Niger had launched a joint army operation against Boko Haram militants in Nigeria on Sunday, military sources said, stepping up a regional push to end the Sunni Muslim group’s six-year insurgency.

Boko Haram has expanded cross-border raids into Cameroon, Chad and Niger in recent months. This has spurred Nigeria’s neighbours to retaliate, although cooperation between them and Nigeria has been limited.

Sunday’s strike marks Niger’s first major push into Nigerian territory to combat Boko Haram. It had until now only defended itself against militant incursions in border areas.

Nigeria’s government appealed for greater international help in combating the insurgency after Boko Haram pledged allegiance on Saturday to Islamic State, the violent jihadi organization that rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria.

Offensives against the Boko Haram sect had heightened after Nigeria’s election was shifted by six weeks to enable the military reclaim some communities in the north-east and enable residents take part in the elections that will now hold on March 28 and April 11.

Not fewer than 36 communities have been recovered from the terrorist group since the onslaught against them increased."

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