Al Qaeda Group Strikes in Nigeria’s Northwest
By Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani
(Maiduguri) In a tragic turn of events, Boko Haram terrorists launched a deadly ambush on the Chadian armed forces, claiming the lives of six senior officers and injuring several others.
The attack struck on Friday, 6 November 2024, shortly after President Mahamat Idriss Déby departed the area to return to the capital, Ndjamena.
Nigeria Suffers Deadly Attack By Lakurawa Similar To Chad
Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, seems to be on the edge and bracing for a fallout from the Boko Haram attack on the Chadian military in the Northeast while Lakurawa and other elements of Fulani ethnic militia raise the ante in the Northwest.
On November 8, 2024, Lakurawa, a new jihadist group in Nigeria, launched a deadly attack on the northeastern village of Mera in Kebbi State, killing at least 15 people and stealing food items.
According to Abdul Bako Usman, President of the Campaign for Democracy, Abuja, “This incident bears a disturbing resemblance to the recent attack in Chad, highlighting the growing threat of terrorism in the region. Notably, the Nigerian military had previously vowed to pursue Lakurawa, yet it struck less than 48 hours later.
“If you look at the recent attack on Chad, President Deby had vowed to punish Boko Haram, yet the group attacked again,” Bako noted.
Scott Morgan, an international security analyst and consultant based in the United States, warned in an interview with Truthnigeria that the attack on Chad is a prelude to attacks on Nigeria.
“Boko Haram is trying to get arms and launch an attack on Nigeria,” Morgan said.
Chadian Army’s Response
General Issakha Acheikh, spokesperson for the Chadian Army, confirmed the ambush but refrained from providing further details. However, he noted that the General Staff of the Armed Forces had launched Operation Haskanite to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from Lake Chad.
This incident follows another recent attack by Boko Haram that resulted in the loss of 40 Chadian soldiers. President Déby has earlier expressed frustration with the lack of coordination among the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) forces, which he believes enables terrorist attacks.
As a result, he has threatened to withdraw Chadian troops from the
Multi-National Joint Task Force.
Attack An Attempt To Assassinate Deby
Morgan, in his reaction to the incessant attacks on the Chadian military position by Boko Haram, said,
“The attack had excellent intelligence. (intelligence) It happened in an area shortly after a visit to the region by President Deby.
“The question of whether or not the President was an intended target has to be given serious thought.”
It’s a fact that Mahamat Deby’s father and the former President of Chad, Idriss Deby, was killed at the warfront while fighting rebels on April 20, 2021.
Chad Military Aware of Impending Attack
A Nigerian defense expert based in London, David Otto, told TruthNigeria that intelligence agencies in Chad had advance warning about the second attack.
“Chad’s military intelligence services were well-aware of the November 9 attack, but their advance warning didn’t translate into effective action. According to a military source, the National Security Agency (ANS) and military intelligence alerted President Deby of the impending assault two days prior. However, instead of mobilizing a strategic response, Kaka [nickname of Mahamet Deby] chose to rush back to Ndjamena, leaving the area exposed,” Otto texted TruthNigeria.
This hasty retreat disorganized the command structure, allowing the attackers to adapt their strategy.
“They employed small commando units, water mines, and improvised explosives to outmaneuver the Chadian forces,” Otto texted.
“The ANS’ intelligence response was deemed a complete failure, as they lost critical field contact and couldn’t gather valuable information from captured prisoners,” Otto added.
Nigeria’s Ground Forces Need to be Tripled
Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram is far from over, and experts warn that the recent attacks on Chad are a dire warning for Nigeria and its neighbors, including the Niger Republic and Cameroon. According to Usman, “Nigeria and its neighbors must be wary of Boko Haram antics, and the group would seek to attack Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Nigerian Republic in order to prove to the world that it is still very relevant.”
Security Consultant Morgan echoes this warning: “If nothing is done by the security forces, it will happen (attacks by Boko Haram) in Nigeria and other neighboring countries.”
“The question remains: is Nigeria doing enough to address the threat? Unfortunately, it seems the answer is ‘no’” Morgan said.
“In fact, some government policies, or lack thereof, may even be facilitating Boko Haram’s recruitment of new members,” Morgan went on to say.
The Nigerian Air Force has launched new air strikes in the Northwest, but experts question whether these efforts are being followed up with sufficient ground units to assess the damage and gather intelligence.
Morgan emphasizes, “Drones are adequate, but a visible ground presence is needed.” This is crucial, as Boko Haram has proven its ability to adapt and exploit weaknesses in the region.
“A holistic approach such as the use of overwhelming military force by the way of air bombardment, sending ground troops, and sustaining such attacks for six months will go a long way in solving the Boko Haram, Fulani terrorists, and Lakurawa menaces,” Usman said.
“These attacks should commence in the Middle Belt, Northeast, and Southeast at the same time,” he went on to say.
Mr. Usman further said that to achieve near victory against Jihadi and separatist groups, Nigeria needs to embark on massive recruitment of men and women into the army, navy, and air force.
“Look at America; it has close to 1.5 million men under arms, and it can still mobilize more. Take a look at Israel; it has almost half a million men under arms. We need to have an army of over 1 million men,” Usman said.
Poor Coordination Between Countries of Sahel Allow Sneak Attacks
Recent military coups and political unrest in West- and Central Africa have created a perfect storm that’s drawn Nigeria, Niger Republic, and other neighboring countries into the deadly clutches of Boko Haram and other Jihadi groups, according to subject experts on the region.
Lack of mutual trust, and poor coordination between Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin have weakened their collective defense against the terrorist group, analysts have reported to TruthNigeria.
“These [Boko Haram] attacks also highlight the poor coordination between Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin since the Niger Republic Coup. Boko Haram taking advantage of this should have raised some bells in the Capitals” according to Morgan.
Usman agrees, pointing out that the coups in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso led those countries to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and to sever military ties with the US and France.
“Meanwhile, Nigeria’s stiff economic sanctions on Niger Republic have had unintended consequences. Niger Republic has subtly reduced military cooperation with Abuja, resulting in an influx of Jihadis into Nigeria from Niger Republic,” Usman told TruthNigeria.
“Cameroon is also struggling to contain separatist groups in its southern regions, forcing it to divert significant military assets away from the north, leaving the Chad basin vulnerable to Boko Haram attacks,” Usman said to Truthnigeria
Military Source Reveals Solutions to Counter Terror Threats
A high-ranking military source in Chad has identified critical gaps in the country’s counter-terrorism strategy, highlighting the need for specialized units, enhanced coordination, and strengthened air support.
The source noted that the recent use of water mines by attackers underscores the importance of forming specialized units in amphibious warfare and water mining. “A rapid reaction force, equipped with equipment suitable for operations in wet areas, would enable effective responses to threats in such terrain,” the source emphasized.
Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani are Conflict Reporters writing for TruthNigeria.
