Citing increased security concerns and intelligence indications of potential extremist infiltration from Northern Nigeria, the Chadian government allegedly announced an emergency shutdown of its border with Nigeria.
Following rumors that armed groups were preparing to enter Chad, President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno ordered a military lockdown on the Nigerian border, according to military sources in N’Djamena on Monday.
To prevent infiltration, Chadian forces have been stationed along important border corridors, supported by armored vehicles and aerial reconnaissance teams, according to regional security analyst Zagazola Makama.
“All units are now at full readiness, and Chadian troops and armored vehicles have been deployed to critical routes from Nigeria,” Makama said.
“No armed group or foreign force will be allowed to enter Chadian soil under any disguise,” according to President Déby.
Rumors about the Movement of US Forces Increasing Tension
According to reports, the border closure comes as tensions in West Africa and the Sahel are rising due to reports of U.S. military activity in the area.
Although Washington has not released an official announcement, rumors that the United States may have repositioned troops in some areas of West Africa have caused diplomatic discomfort and security reactions from a number of regional states.
Chad’s border shutdown, according to security experts, is a precautionary move meant to shield its territory from possible regional instability spillovers.
Following military takeovers in neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, Chad’s most recent action coincides with increased militant activity throughout the Lake Chad Basin countries and shifting alliances.
Travel between the two nations has been temporarily halted due to the closure of the Nigerian border.
Cross-border commerce and transportation companies have been told to wait for more instructions from the Chadian government.
