Hundreds of Chadian troops yesterday liberated a Nigerian border town from Boko Haram insurgents after two days of fighting.
Militant group Boko Haram (file photo)
Reports said the Chadian ground forces drove nearly 100 kilometres westward, mostly over Niger Republic territory to liberate Malam Fatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
Defence spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade and a senior official from Niger confirmed the report yesterday.
Some displaced residents of Malam Fatori, who are taking refuge in Maiduguri as well as those in Bosso and Diffa in Niger Republic, told our correspondent that Chadian troops have recaptured the town.
Olukolade, when contacted on the development by Daily Trust, said, “Malam Fatori is within the area of operation covered by the Multinational Joint Task Force [MNJTF] of which Chad has always been a part.
“The Nigerian Air Force has also been conducting air missions there for two days now. It is all part of the ongoing efforts against terrorism,” he said.
People who fled the area told the BBC they had seen military planes bombing the town, which is on the shores of Lake Chad.
Niger officials said Chadian ground forces moved into the town after crossing Lake Chad.
Meanwhile, reports from the area say fighting has now spread to the nearby town of Abadam.
A credible source in Maiduguri also told our correspondent that the Chadian forces took over a small island in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
“Based on the information we got from community leaders, the Chadian troops are in full control of Kingallam in Kukawa council.
“In fact they have hoisted their flags there probably to replace that of the Boko Haram,” he said. That, however, could not be independently verified
Babagana Kura, a resident of Malam Fatori, who fled to nearby Bosso, Niger Republic three month ago, said there was serious fighting between Chadian troops and the insurgents for the control of Malam Fatori.
He said, “Chadian troops routed the insurgents and finally chased them away today (Thursday).
“As you know, Bosso in Niger is much, much closer to Malam Fatori than the communities in Chad, but Chadian troops drove over a long distance in large numbers since two days ago, in a convoy of vehicles.
“In fact, it was the sound of gunfire that woke many of us up in Bosso and some of our people even fled deeper into Niger in search of safety, thinking it was the Boko Haram fighters that wanted to invade the place,” he said.
Abubakar Mohammed, another resident of the area who is now in Maiduguri, said he spoke with his mother and brothers and they confirmed to him that the Boko Haram insurgents are no longer in Malam Fatori.
“My brother was taking refuge in Diffa but he told me that he would go back to Abadam in the next few days.
“He said the Boko Haram flags in Malam Fatori have been lowered and some trapped people have escaped and crossed over to Niger,” Mohammed said.
Some
displaced people in Maiduguri, who are natives of Malam Fatori and Abadam, said they were “inundated with calls” yesterday from their loved ones taking refuge in Niger.
“My in-law told me on phone that dozens of Boko Haram insurgents have been killed by the Chadian troops. Most of those that occupied Malam Fatori did not escape,” he said.
The Boko Haram insurgents took over Malam Fatori and Abadam on Thursday, October 16 and hoisted their flags on Saturday, October 18. They killed many people as thousands fled their homes into Niger Republic.
Abadam local government has an area of 3,973 km² and a population of 100,180, according to the 2006 census.
The MNJTF has a big formation, including tactical command, armoury and barracks at Malam Fatori.
Before the attack last October, the MNJTF facility at Malam Fatori had been attacked by the Boko Haram insurgents on August 4, 2013 which reportedly led to the death of many soldiers and destruction of facilities, as well as attacks on villages and military bases.
The Nigerian authorities say they are doing all they can to tackle the militants but neighbours, including Niger and Cameroon, have said more must be done.
Chad has already sent troops to Cameroon to help it counter Boko Haram incursions and last week Nigeria said the Chadian army would be fighting on its territory.
African Union heads of state are due to discuss the crisis over Boko Haram at their summit beginning on Friday.
Ghanaian President John Mahama has said the leaders must produce a “specific plan of action” to “deal permanently” with Boko Haram.