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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boko Haram crisis: Chad's troops enter Nigeria | Boko Haram crisis: Chad's troops enter Nigeria |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Chadian troops have entered Nigeria to join the battle against militant Islamist group Boko Haram. | Chadian troops have entered Nigeria to join the battle against militant Islamist group Boko Haram. |
| Armoured vehicles and infantry crossed a bridge from Cameroon following air strikes and mortar attacks on Boko Haram positions, officials say. | Armoured vehicles and infantry crossed a bridge from Cameroon following air strikes and mortar attacks on Boko Haram positions, officials say. |
| Fighting focused on the key north-eastern town of Gamboru, Nigerian security spokesman Mike Omeri said. | Fighting focused on the key north-eastern town of Gamboru, Nigerian security spokesman Mike Omeri said. |
| Chad's deepening involvement shows how the conflict with Boko Haram is taking a regional dimension. | Chad's deepening involvement shows how the conflict with Boko Haram is taking a regional dimension. |
| Last week, Chadian troops reportedly moved into Malumfatori, a Nigerian town which lies near the borders of Chad and Niger, after a ground and air assault against the militants. | Last week, Chadian troops reportedly moved into Malumfatori, a Nigerian town which lies near the borders of Chad and Niger, after a ground and air assault against the militants. |
| Warplanes | Warplanes |
| Chadian forces have also massed near the town of Diffa in Niger, Reuters news agency quotes military sources in Niger as saying. | Chadian forces have also massed near the town of Diffa in Niger, Reuters news agency quotes military sources in Niger as saying. |
| Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to create a caliphate, incorporating parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. | Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to create a caliphate, incorporating parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. |
| The African Union has responded by backing plans to establish a 7,500-strong regional force to fight the group. | The African Union has responded by backing plans to establish a 7,500-strong regional force to fight the group. |
| The Chadian contingent of about 2,000 troops crossed the frontier without a shot being fired, AFP news agency reports from the scene. | The Chadian contingent of about 2,000 troops crossed the frontier without a shot being fired, AFP news agency reports from the scene. |
| Chad warplanes had earlier carried out air strikes for about an hour. | Chad warplanes had earlier carried out air strikes for about an hour. |
| 'Recaptured' | 'Recaptured' |
| Mr Omeri told BBC Focus on Africa that Chad's intervention signalled the "intensification" of efforts by neighbouring states to defeat Boko Haram. | Mr Omeri told BBC Focus on Africa that Chad's intervention signalled the "intensification" of efforts by neighbouring states to defeat Boko Haram. |
| "We should expect more cooperation, more collaboration and more coordination," he said. | "We should expect more cooperation, more collaboration and more coordination," he said. |
| Chadian military sources told Reuters that their troops had clashed with the militants in Gamboru, a small town separated from Cameroon by a river and used by the militants to launch cross-border raids. | Chadian military sources told Reuters that their troops had clashed with the militants in Gamboru, a small town separated from Cameroon by a river and used by the militants to launch cross-border raids. |
| "Our troops entered Nigeria this morning. The combat is ongoing," it quotes a source as saying. | "Our troops entered Nigeria this morning. The combat is ongoing," it quotes a source as saying. |
| On Monday, Nigeria's army said it had recaptured Gamboru. | |
| Most of its residents had fled after Boko Haram seized it last year, destroying most of the town and killing hundreds of people. | Most of its residents had fled after Boko Haram seized it last year, destroying most of the town and killing hundreds of people. |
| Nigeria's military has been widely criticised for failing to curb the six-year insurgency, which has displaced some 1.5 million people. | Nigeria's military has been widely criticised for failing to curb the six-year insurgency, which has displaced some 1.5 million people. |
| It is under increasing pressure to regain territory ahead of the 14 February presidential election, amid concerns that the insurgency will prevent many Nigerians in the north-east from voting. | It is under increasing pressure to regain territory ahead of the 14 February presidential election, amid concerns that the insurgency will prevent many Nigerians in the north-east from voting. |
| Boko Haram controls territory the size of Belgium, mostly in Borno state, according to Associated Press news agency. | Boko Haram controls territory the size of Belgium, mostly in Borno state, according to Associated Press news agency. |
| In April, it caused international outrage by abducting more than 200 schoolgirls from the north-eastern town of Chibok in Nigeria's Borno State. | In April, it caused international outrage by abducting more than 200 schoolgirls from the north-eastern town of Chibok in Nigeria's Borno State. |
| Boko Haram at a glance | Boko Haram at a glance |
| Why is Boko Haram so strong? | Why is Boko Haram so strong? |
| Soldiers without weapons | Soldiers without weapons |