Chad’s military says at least 24 soldiers were killed in a night attack by Boko Haram militants on an army base in the Lake Chad region. The assault, which took place late Monday at the Barka Tolorom post, also left 46 troops wounded, according to army sources.
The Lake Chad area bordering Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad has long been a hotspot for militant activity. Its remote islands and marshlands provide cover for armed groups, including Boko Haram and other extremist factions operating across national borders.
Regional officials reported that the situation has since been brought under control. In a message shared on Tuesday, President Mahamat Idriss Déby expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed Chad’s commitment to defeating militant threats.
The attack is part of a broader pattern of escalating violence in the region. Boko Haram has intensified its operations in recent months, particularly through its JAS faction, which has carried out kidnappings and targeted military positions.
This latest incident follows a deadly assault in October 2024 that killed around 40 Chadian soldiers. In response, Déby launched a counter offensive, personally overseeing operations for two weeks. Although the campaign concluded in February 2025 with claims that militants no longer had safe haven in Chad, insurgent groups remain active.
Alongside Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a rival splinter group, also operates in the Lake Chad basin, taking advantage of the region’s difficult terrain to stage attacks.
