The Chadian government has ordered an immediate closure of its border with Nigeria, citing security concerns tied to reports of an alleged U.S. military operation in parts of West Africa.
Military officials in N’Djamena, home to the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), confirmed that President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno gave the directive following intelligence suggesting that terrorist elements in northern Nigeria might attempt to flee across the border.
According to security sources, the president instructed a full military lockdown, placing troops and armoured vehicles on high alert along strategic crossing points between both countries.
“No armed group or foreign force will be allowed to enter Chadian soil under any disguise,” Déby was quoted as saying in a statement that reflected the government’s growing unease over regional instability.
The decision comes amid heightened tension in the Sahel, with reports swirling about possible U.S. military plans related to ongoing violence and alleged genocide against Christian communities in the region.
Officials in N’Djamena described the move as a precautionary step to protect Chadian sovereignty and prevent militants or external actors from exploiting the fragile security situation in neighboring countries.
For now, Chad’s borders with Nigeria remain tightly sealed, with military patrols and surveillance operations intensified to forestall any breach.
The development underscores the region’s fragile balance, ne that could easily tilt under the weight of external intervention or renewed militant activity.