At least 23 soldiers of the Chadian Armed Forces have been killed and 26 others wounded following a deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on a military position in the Lake Chad region.

According to a statement issued by the military, the terrorists launched the assault late Monday night on a base located on the island of Barka Tolorom, within Lake Chad.

The army said troops engaged the attackers in a fierce firefight, eventually repelling the assault and inflicting significant casualties on the insurgents, although the exact number of those killed was not disclosed.

President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly” act by Boko Haram against the country’s armed forces.

In a statement, the president expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed Chad’s commitment to intensifying military operations against terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad basin.

He said the country would continue its fight “with renewed determination” until insurgent threats are fully neutralised.

The Lake Chad region, which borders Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon, has remained a hotspot for Boko Haram and its splinter factions, with frequent cross-border attacks targeting both military formations and civilian communities.

Security sources note that Chadian forces have come under increasing pressure in recent months, with the latest attack recalling a similar incident in October 2024 in which about 40 soldiers were killed in the same region.

Military authorities said operations are ongoing to secure the area and prevent further incursions by insurgent elements. (Text, excluding headline: Zagazola)

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