The Chadian government said its forces killed more than 200 Boko Haram militants in fighting along the Cameroon-Nigeria border on Tuesday. The office of President Idriss Deby said Chadian forces counterattacked after Boko Haram insurgents assaulted their position on the border. Soldiers pursued the militants into the Nigerian towns of Gambaru and Ngala, "where they were completely wiped out," according to a statement Wednesday. Nine Chadian soldiers were killed and 21 wounded in the clashes, the statement said. There has been no independent confirmation of the casualty figures. In a major offensive against Boko Haram, Nigerian and Chadian jets are bombing the Islamic extremists from northeastern Nigerian towns and villages, the Associated Press reported witnesses and officials as saying Wednesday. Chad has taken the lead role in a multinational effort to help Nigeria retake areas seized by Boko Haram for an envisioned Islamic state. Nigeria said Tuesday that the insurgents have lost control of nearly a dozen towns and cities across the northeast, including Gambaru. Force of 7,500 troops planned Plans are underway to set up a force of 7,500 soldiers to combat the militants, who are blamed for thousands of deaths since launching their insurgency in 2009. Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin have pledged to contribute troops. On Tuesday, Nigerian government spokesman Mike Omeri told VOA that Chad is operating under a bilateral protocol that allows it to pursue Boko Haram fighters into Nigerian territory. Chad said its forces destroyed about 10 vehicles equipped with heavy weapons and 100 motorcycles during Tuesday's fighting.
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1KciraS
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1KciraS
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