Attacks in Koulfoua (on the Chadian side of Lake Chad) have killed dozens and wounded over a hundred more after three female suicide bombers detonated their bombs in the Market area of the island. Two of the blasts rang out from the centre of the market and a third in the street as terrified people fled. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, due to several similar attacks by Boko Haram in recent months in the region and its environs, Chad’s Director General of the Gendarmerie, Gen. Banyaman Cossingar, said the terrorist group was suspected in the attacks.
The Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma strongly condemned the attacks and reiterated the AU’s total rejection of terrorism and violent extremism, which she said cannot be justified under any circumstances. She expressed that these attacks to be a stark reminder of the continued threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism in Africa. The AU called for enhanced inter-African cooperation to combat terrorism while building on relevant African and international instruments. More assistance will therefore be given to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), established by the member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and Benin to combat the Boko Haram terrorist group. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the countries affected by Boko Haram to address the root causes of this scourge in an integrated way. A statement from the his office said that the attack on Koulfoua Island highlighted the need to fight Boko Haram in a holistic manner. Ban Ki Moon extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Boko Haram has stepped up its terrorist activities in the region, laying claim to several attacks in Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad. Lake Chad is home to numerous islands shared between these nations. Boko Haram now commonly uses suicide bombers, including children as young as twelve. Earlier this year, thousands of people fleeing the militant group sought refuge on Koulfoua. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 50,000 internally displaced people have arrived in the region since late July. Recent reports show that Boko Haram kills more people than even the most reported on terrorist groups, as total hits reach a historic high. In November, Boko Haram and ISIS militants were found to be responsible for over a half of terror-related killings carried out in 2014. Though based in Nigeria, but also active in Chad, Kenya, Niger and Cameroon, Boko Haram reportedly killed more people than ISIS counterparts, claiming 6,644 lives, (compared to 6,073).
Since the start of the year, the Chadian army has participated in a regional military operation against Boko Haram, whose attacks have spread. Chad is part of an 8,700-strong regional task force also comprising troops from Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Benin that has pledged to destroy Boko Haram, which though based mainly in Nigeria, has become a major threat to wider regional security. Thus, positive strides are being made in the fight against terrorism in the region. Cameroon Troops recently freed 900 hostages in an attack on Boko Haram. The troops also arrested 100 fighters, including a group leader, from Boko Haram strongholds in the Sambisa Forest, which straddles northeastern Nigeria and Cameroon, and in the Lake Chad area.
