Boko Haram militants killed at least 23 Chadian security personnel in an overnight attack on a military base on the shores of Lake Chad, officials said on Tuesday.
The assault took place on Monday night at the Barka Tolorom military base. Dozens more soldiers were injured before the attackers were repelled.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno condemned the attack in a statement posted on Facebook.
“Once again, the nebulous Boko Haram terrorist group carried out a cowardly attack last night on our military base at Barka Tolorom,” he wrote.
“We will continue the fight with renewed determination until this threat is completely eradicated.”
Persistent Threat Around Lake Chad
Although Boko Haram originated in northern Nigeria, the group has expanded its operations across the Lake Chad region over the past decade, spanning parts of Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
The United Nations estimates the group has killed thousands of people and displaced millions across the region. In recent years, Boko Haram has intensified attacks on military targets and kidnappings around Lake Chad.
In October 2024, the group killed around 40 Chadian troops in a similar assault. President Déby then launched a major counter-offensive, which he said he would personally lead on the ground.
The operation ended in February 2025, with the Chadian army claiming at the time that Boko Haram no longer had sanctuaries on Chadian territory.
The islands and marshes of Lake Chad continue to provide hideouts for Boko Haram as well as its rival splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
