UN’s Ban condemns deadly Lake Chad attack

“Three suicide bombers blew themselves up in three different places at the weekly market on Loulou Fou, an island in Lake Chad”, an anonymous source was quoted.

Boko Haram attacks have spread from northeast Nigeria, its traditional stronghold, to the neighboring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Another suicide bomb attack near Kano on November 27 killed at least 21 people during a Shiite procession. The attack [Al Jazeera report] targeted a busy market and was carried out by at least three female suicide bombers.

Earlier this year, the militant group overran another Lake Chad island, Karamga.

Chad, along with Niger and Cameroon, has played a critical role in aiding the Nigerian army in the latter’s attempts to retake portions of northern Nigeria from the terrorist group. The suicide bomber exploded as truckers were tucking into dinner at the bustling marketplace where vendors urged them to buy sugar cane.

“Cameroon’s army spokesman said its forces acted with the backing of the regional task force, which became operational in August but has yet to launch joint raids”, the wire service reports. Boko Haram militants arrived in N’gouboua before dawn on February 13, marking the first attack of its kind on Chad.

Sadly for Chad, terrorist attacks are increasing despite some progress being made in Nigeria against Boko Haram. “Nine hundred hostages detained by Boko Haram were freed”, he said. Boko Haram is thought to have killed 6,644 past year, while Daesh is estimated to have been responsible for the deaths of 6,073.

In recent months, Boko Haram Islamists have stepped up attacks and suicide bombings on Chadian villages in the lake that lie close to the frontier with Nigeria.