Chad: Boko Haram militants kill five in Lac region February 20

Event

Boko Haram militants killed five people in Bourboura (Lac region) on Wednesday, February 20. According to local sources, the militants also took twelve hostages from the nearby village of Ngatia following the attack. Additionally, security forces have been on high alert in N'Djamena in recent days, following reports of at least five Boko Haram militants entering the capital; three members of the cell have since been arrested, along with two suspected accomplices. Similar Boko Haram attacks and security operations are to be expected in Chad over the near term.

Context

Although the regional counterinsurgency effort against Boko Haram that began in 2015 - led by West African states Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger - has greatly diminished the extent of their effective territorial control, the group continues to routinely carry out deadly terrorist attacks. Boko Haram's stronghold is in northeastern Nigeria, where the majority of its activities are concentrated.

Advice

Individuals in Chad are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities, remain vigilant for militant activity, and limit time in areas deemed particularly likely to be targeted in a terrorist attack (e.g. crowded markets, etc.).