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Chadian Forces, Beating Back Boko Haram, Are Said to Retake Nigerian Town Chadian Forces, Beating Back Boko Haram, Are Said to Retake Nigerian Town
(about 1 hour later)
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Chadian forces have retaken an important Nigerian town north of here that had been under the control of Boko Haram since October, according to a Chadian military spokesman, Nigerian news media reports and officials in neighboring Niger.MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Chadian forces have retaken an important Nigerian town north of here that had been under the control of Boko Haram since October, according to a Chadian military spokesman, Nigerian news media reports and officials in neighboring Niger.
If confirmed, the recapturing of the town, Malam Fatori, would indicate a breakthrough in regional cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents — a joint effort long viewed warily by the Nigerian military. It would also represent an incursion of foreign forces on Nigerian soil.If confirmed, the recapturing of the town, Malam Fatori, would indicate a breakthrough in regional cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents — a joint effort long viewed warily by the Nigerian military. It would also represent an incursion of foreign forces on Nigerian soil.
Boko Haram’s black flag had flown over the town, just across the border from Niger and about 150 miles north of here in remote semidesert scrub, since October.Boko Haram’s black flag had flown over the town, just across the border from Niger and about 150 miles north of here in remote semidesert scrub, since October.
On Thursday, forces from Chad, which with Cameroon has pledged to join the fight against Boko Haram, chased out the Islamists, according to Col. Abouna Azem, a spokesman for the Chadian military.On Thursday, forces from Chad, which with Cameroon has pledged to join the fight against Boko Haram, chased out the Islamists, according to Col. Abouna Azem, a spokesman for the Chadian military.
“We confirm it. It’s been retaken. We chased Boko Haram out yesterday. They have fled the town,” Colonel Azem said. “For now, the Chadian forces are on the ground.”“We confirm it. It’s been retaken. We chased Boko Haram out yesterday. They have fled the town,” Colonel Azem said. “For now, the Chadian forces are on the ground.”
A defeat for Boko Haram in the country′s rural northeast takes pressure off this regional capital of over two million, which sustained a significant attack this week and is thought by officials to be the Islamist extremist group’s ultimate target.A defeat for Boko Haram in the country′s rural northeast takes pressure off this regional capital of over two million, which sustained a significant attack this week and is thought by officials to be the Islamist extremist group’s ultimate target.
Officials have said Boko Haram forces are regrouping for another attack after being pushed back on Sunday. But the militants did capture a significant Nigerian military installation just north of here, at Monguno, chasing 1,400 Nigerian soldiers into the bush. Officials have said that Boko Haram forces are regrouping for another attack after being pushed back on Sunday. But the militants did capture a significant Nigerian military installation just north of here, at Monguno, chasing 1,400 Nigerian soldiers into the bush.
Chad’s military is considered by some experts to be the region’s top antiterrorism force, particularly after it provided crucial help to France in forcing out Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb from Mali's northern deserts. Its full engagement in the fight against Boko Haram could signal a turning point.Chad’s military is considered by some experts to be the region’s top antiterrorism force, particularly after it provided crucial help to France in forcing out Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb from Mali's northern deserts. Its full engagement in the fight against Boko Haram could signal a turning point.
But the Nigerian military, jealous of its sovereignty despite a faltering performance against Boko Haram that has seen the militants capture much territory around this city, has resisted a full partnership with the Chadian forces as well as with Cameroon. Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos, a French scholar and Boko Haram specialist, said that Chad had an economic stake in the fight against the militants, especially if northern Cameroon became cut off because of the instability in the region.
Still, he pointed out that the Chadian army was accused of committing abuses during an African Union-led peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. The Chadian government withdrew its forces from the force last year, acknowledging that its soldiers had been accused of siding with Muslim militias in sectarian clashes with Christian fighters. The Chadians defended their actions, saying after one particularly deadly attack that they acted in self-defense.
The Nigerian military, protective of its sovereignty despite a faltering performance against Boko Haram that has seen the militants capture much territory around this city, has resisted a full partnership with the Chadian forces as well as with Cameroon.
A top local official on the Niger side, just across the Komadougou River from Malam Fatori, confirmed that Chadian forces had been at the forefront of the fight against Boko Haram there this week.A top local official on the Niger side, just across the Komadougou River from Malam Fatori, confirmed that Chadian forces had been at the forefront of the fight against Boko Haram there this week.
“The Chadian Army has been bombing Boko Haram positions,” said Aboubacar Mara, the prefect of Bosso, Niger. “For the last three days, and on the islands too,” he said, referring to Boko Haram encampments on the islands in nearby Lake Chad. “The Chadian Army has been bombing Boko Haram positions,” said Aboubacar Mara, the prefect of Bosso, Niger. “For the last three days, and on the islands, too,” he said, referring to Boko Haram encampments on the islands in nearby Lake Chad.
“It was their forces that advanced on Malam Fatori,” said Ary Malam Ligari, the president of the regional council in Diffa, Niger, the regions major city, referring to the Chadian Army. “Malam Fatori is no longer in the hands of the Boko Haram.” . “It was their forces that advanced on Malam Fatori,” said Ary Malam Ligari, the president of the regional council in Diffa, Niger, the region’s major city, referring to the Chadian Army. “Malam Fatori is no longer in the hands of the Boko Haram.”
Nigeria’s Daily Trust newspaper quoted Malam Fatori residents who had fled earlier to Maiduguri, and who were in touch with relatives there, as saying that Chadian forces had chased the Islamists out of the town. The newspaper The Daily Trust of Nigeria quoted Malam Fatori residents who had fled earlier to Maiduguri, and who were in touch with relatives there, as saying that Chadian forces had chased the Islamists out of the town.
However, a Nigerian military spokesman refused to confirm that it was the Chadians alone who had retaken Malam Fatori.However, a Nigerian military spokesman refused to confirm that it was the Chadians alone who had retaken Malam Fatori.
“There is an ongoing operation,” said the spokesman, Chris Olukolade. “It’s not the Chadian forces solely that are operating there,” he said, adding in a subsequent text message that “Malam Fatori is within the area of operation covered by the Multinational Joint Task Force of which Chad has always been a part.” “There is an ongoing operation,” said the spokesman, Chris Olukolade. “It’s not the Chadian forces solely that are operating there,” he said, adding in a subsequent text message that “Malam Fatori is within the area of operation covered by the Multinational Joint Task Force, of which Chad has always been a part.”
But that task force has largely been a dead letter in recent months: Troops from neighboring countries were absent, for instance, from its would-be headquarters at Baga when that town sustained a bloody assault from Boko Haram this month.But that task force has largely been a dead letter in recent months: Troops from neighboring countries were absent, for instance, from its would-be headquarters at Baga when that town sustained a bloody assault from Boko Haram this month.
Mr. Olukolade said Nigerian aviation had also been engaged in the fight for Malam Fatori. Mr. Olukolade said the Nigerian Air Froce had also been engaged in the fight for Malam Fatori.