Update on Boko Haram – Gamboru and Fotokol

The Multi-National Task Force comprised of 7,500 hundred troops from neighboring nations in the AU seems to be moving slightly forward in their fight against the Islamic State’s faction known as Boko Haram, but at a staggering cost. A Nigerian militia group spokesman details that the Chadian military has liberated the Nigerian towns of Baga, Dikwa, Malam Fatori, Damasak, Ngala, and parts of Bama within the last four days. The most decisive and noteworthy victory thus far has come in the recapture of the border town earlier this week at Gamboru. According to Chadian government officials, “the reported death of Boko Haram jihadists totaled more than 200”. An attack by Boko Haram near the Cameroon-Nigeria border triggered this retaliation. The Chadian military has approximately 2,000 of its own military personnel stationed in northeastern Nigeria to repel the Boko Haram insurgents. Since January 20^th, the deployment of their planes, helicopters, and troops has been a “game changer”, according to a Western diplomat.

Shortly after Chad’s President Idriss Deby vowed that his country would not stand by as Boko Haram terrorized the country of Cameroon, military troops and armored vehicles were sent from N’djamena on January 16^th. N’djamena is going to be the new home of a regional tasks force after Boko Haram overran the town of Baga, near Lake Chad, where the former headquarters of the regional task force was located on January 3^rd.

The Chadian offensive is being overseen by the eventual head of the AU regional task force, President Idriss Deby. Chadian troops and equipment left for Cameroon shortly after Chad’s politicians voted on the executive order to deploy arms to Cameroon to protect Chad’s security, stability, and vital interests. As of today, there are approximately 2,000 Chadian troops operating solely in northeastern Nigeria with the mission of eradicating Boko Haram. France, a major partner to Chad’s victory over al-Qaeda in Mali two years ago, has confirmed that they have given air support to both of Nigeria’s neighbors, Chad and Niger.

Unfortunately, Boko Haram mounted an offensive on Wednesday, crossing the border of Cameroon by way of recapturing Gamboru and leading an attack into Fotokol. Fotokol is located just 500 yards across the border of Cameroon and Nigeria. The attack was insurmountable, with over 800 Islamic State jihadists burning churches, mosques, and villages. If Boko Haram encountered civilians on their way through the ravaged city, they would either slit their throat or use them as human shields, says spokesman Col. Didier Badjeck. It is reported that 90 Nigerian civilians were shot, killed, or burned alive and another 500 were wounded. The central mosque was burned to the ground as were dozens of houses. Chadian troops were seen scrambling across the border to assist the Cameroon military to try and repel the Boko Haram jihadists.   Boko Haram took a heavy death toll, as bodies littered the streets. A death toll has not been announced.

Boko Haram currently holds more than 130 towns across three northern states of Nigeria. For Chad, there are numerous civil and economic interests within these heinous attacks by Boko Haram. Trade that resonates from Douala port is vital to Chad. Boko Haram is centered on Lake Chad which influences all 4 neighboring countries. Speculation continues to swirl before the democratic election in Nigeria on February 14^th, between current President Goodluck Jonathon and leader of the All Progressive Party Muhammadu Buhari. Boko Haram is expected to ramp up their military efforts to capture all of northern Nigeria ahead of the election. The utilization of the Chadian military has also shed light on the inability of the Nigerian government to unite in their fight against Boko Haram. “The Nigerian government has put their heads under the sand for far too long”, says Virginia Comolii, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. It remains to be seen what kind of effect Boko Haram’s continued harassment has on the coming up elections.