A fresh military offensive by Chadian forces in the Lake Chad Basin has triggered a mass displacement of Boko Haram terrorists and their families from the Tunbuns and adjoining island settlements toward parts of northern Borno, security and local sources have disclosed.
The development followed days of intense aerial bombardments and coordinated ground assaults launched by the Chadian military against suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region after deadly attacks on Chadian troops earlier this month.
Sources told Zagazola Makama on Tuesday that large numbers of insurgents, accompanied by women and children, were seen moving across border routes from the Tunbuns toward Kangarwa and surrounding settlements.
Kangarwa is located about 14 to 15 kilometres from Kukawa in northern Borno.
The sources said the fleeing insurgents were escaping sustained bombardments by Chadian air assets targeting known terrorist camps and logistics bases located within the marshlands and islands around the Lake Chad fringes.
According to the sources, there are growing fears that some of the displaced fighters may attempt to regroup within established enclaves around Doro Naira, Wula Wula, Njemina, Tunbun Gini, Tunbun Rago and Tunbun Shanu in Borno state.
The sources stressed the need for intensified military operations within the Kukawa, Baga, Gudumbali and Malam Fatori axis to prevent the insurgents from integrating into existing cells operating within Nigerian territory.
The latest offensive is believed to be directly linked to recent deadly attacks carried out by insurgents against Chadian troops in the Lac Province area of Chad.
Security sources said insurgents linked to the Bakura-led faction of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) attacked Chadian military positions at Ngaboua and Chukuntale, known collectively as the Barka Tolorom axis, between May 4 and May 6.
According to the sources, the first attack occurred on May 4 at about 10 p.m. when insurgents stormed a Chadian military base at Ngaboua and reportedly overran the position.
