Boko Haram attacks claim 40 Chadian soldiers near border

The tragedy occurred overnight from Sunday to Monday when terrorists attacked military positions, seized weapons, and set Chad's army vehicles on fire. The unit commander was among the victims.

Undoubtedly, we suffered heavy losses, but the situation is under control, and our forces have gone in pursuit of the enemy, said a representative of the Lac region authorities.

Chad's president, Mahamat Idriss Deby, visited the scene and announced that the attackers would be tracked down and pursued until they were captured.

The Lake Chad region has long been contested between the Chadian military and Boko Haram. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group formed as a result of a division within Boko Haram, also operates there.

Boko Haram began fighting the Nigerian government in 2009, demanding the implementation of Sharia law. This conflict has so far claimed approximately 40,000 lives and forced more than two million people to flee their homes.

In June, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 220,000 residents fled the Lac region due to attacks by armed groups.

The Polish Press Agency notes that Boko Haram has expanded its activities to neighbouring countries, including Chad, contributing to the region's destabilisation.

The Boko Haram group was formed in 2002. It is an Islamic extremist organisation seeking to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria based on a strict interpretation of Sharia law.

The group opposes Western influences, particularly in education. The name Boko Haram is often translated as "Western education is sin," "ban Western education".

The exact number of members in the organisation is unknown, but at various stages of its existence, it has been estimated to range from several thousand to as many as 15,000 people.

Boko Haram operates not only in Nigeria but also in Chad, Niger, and Mali, among other places.