8 Chad soldiers killed in clashes with Boko Haram

ABUJA 26 June 2017: Eight Chadian soldiers were killed in fierce fighting with Boko Haram insurgents at the weekend on islands on Lake Chad, the army said Monday, the Vanguard reported.

“Our forces attacked Boko Haram elements on five islands near Nigeria on June 24 and 25,” said Chad army spokesman Colonel Azem, indicating eight soldiers had died and another 18 were wounded.

He also claimed troops had killed 162 jihadists from the Nigeria-based group, and destroyed six vehicles along with many of the motorcycles often favoured by Boko Haram fighters in their raids.

Chad is part of a five-nation regional force — also comprising Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Benin — fighting Boko Haram, which is blamed for killing at least 20,000 people and leaving another 2.6 million homeless.

Chad’s President Idriss Deby threatened on Sunday to pull the country’s troops out of peacekeeping operations in Africa because of a lack of foreign financial support