The Government of Chad has announced the immediate closure of its border with Nigeria, citing security concerns following reports of alleged U.S. military plans in West Africa.
In a statement issued on the government website on Monday, President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno ordered a complete military lockdown along the Nigerian border after intelligence suggested that terrorist elements from northern Nigeria were preparing to flee into Chadian territory.
First Daily correspondent learnt that since the US threat to Nigeria, the Chadian army has been placed on full alert, with troops and armoured vehicles deployed across key border corridors linking the two countries.
The president was quoted in the statement as warning, “No armed group or foreign force will be allowed to enter Chadian soil under any disguise.”
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The move comes amid heightened regional tension and growing speculation over America’s alleged military activities in parts of West Africa.
The closure was a preventive measure aimed at safeguarding Chadian sovereignty and preventing possible infiltration by armed groups exploiting regional instability.