At least 11 civilians were killed when suspected Boko Haram militants attacked an island in Chad’s Lake Province, according to military officials..reports Asian Lite News Desk
At least 11 civilians were killed when suspected Boko Haram militants raided an island in Lake Chad near Ngouboua in Chad’s Lake Province, according to local media and military officials.
The attack took place on Sunday when the militants arrived on the island by canoe and opened fire on civilians who were fishing, army official Moussa Djibrine said. Seven men and four women were killed in the assault, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Soldiers were alerted to the attack and launched a pursuit operation, during which nine of the suspected militants were killed, Djibrine said.
The incident took place in Lake Province, an area bordering Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon that has faced repeated attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups operating in the wider Lake Chad basin.
The latest violence comes amid continuing attacks on communities across the region. Boko Haram and affiliated militant groups have remained active around the Lake Chad basin, where the borders of Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon meet.
Last week, at least 13 civilians were killed and another injured in an overnight attack blamed on Boko Haram in Cameroon’s Far North region.
The attack took place between 1am and 2am local time on Thursday in Madegoua, a locality in the Makary subdivision of the Logone et Chari division, while residents were asleep.
An official, who requested anonymity, said the militants entered the locality and killed 13 civilians at the scene. The sole survivor was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Local municipal authorities said the attack was believed to have been carried out in retaliation after security forces seized a large quantity of ammunition allegedly intended for Boko Haram fighters several months earlier.
The latest incident follows another deadly attack in Cameroon’s Far North region in August.
Suspected Boko Haram fighters killed at least eight people and injured another during an overnight attack on Kangaleri village in the Mayo Sava division on August 7, according to local sources.
The gunmen reportedly entered the village at around 11pm local time under cover of darkness before fleeing the area.
Six residents were killed at the scene, while three others were seriously wounded and taken to hospital. Two of the injured later died from their wounds, bringing the reported death toll to eight.
The attacks highlight the continuing security challenges facing communities around Lake Chad, where Boko Haram and other armed groups have carried out attacks against civilians and security forces over several years.
Authorities in the affected countries have continued military operations against militant groups operating in the region, while communities remain exposed to attacks, particularly in remote areas and locations close to national borders.
