Twenty-three Chadian soldiers were killed and 26 others injured following an attack on a military post in the Lake Chad region late Monday night, according to official statements from the Chadian military and government authorities.
The assault occurred at approximately 10:00 p.m. local time on May 4, 2026, targeting a military installation on Barka Tolorom island in Chad’s Lake Chad province. The incident marks one of the deadliest recent attacks against Chadian forces operating in the volatile Lake Chad Basin.
Chadian army spokesman Issakha Acheikh Chanane confirmed the casualty figures in an official communication released after the attack. Military authorities stated that government troops engaged the assailants in combat and ultimately repelled the attack.
In its statement, the Chadian armed forces reported that a “significant number” of militants were neutralized during the confrontation. The army also said that weapons and other military equipment were recovered from the attackers following the engagement.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. However, the Lake Chad region has long been affected by insurgent activity linked to Boko Haram and breakaway factions such as the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno condemned the assault, describing it as a “cowardly” attack against national forces. According to government officials, the president later visited wounded soldiers receiving treatment at a hospital.
The Chadian government reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the region.
Regional military operations are coordinated through the Multinational Joint Task Force, which includes forces from Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger.
Despite ongoing operations, attacks continue intermittently, highlighting persistent security challenges.
