Chad has declared a 20-day state of emergency in the violence-hit Lake Chad region following a fresh wave of attacks blamed on jihadist group Boko Haram.
The decision comes after at least 26 soldiers and two senior generals were killed in separate ambushes this week, prompting nationwide mourning and intensified military operations.
Government spokesman Gassim Cherif said authorities reviewed the worsening security and humanitarian situation in the region before approving the emergency measures.
According to him, the government is concerned about renewed Boko Haram attacks, growing displacement of civilians, and increasing threats to lives and property across the Lake Chad area.
The latest violence followed a deadly assault on the Barka Tolorom military base located along Lake Chad.
Military sources said at least 24 Chadian soldiers were killed during the raid, while several others sustained injuries.
Cherif also disclosed that President Mahamat Idriss Deby expressed appreciation to Nigeria for its continued support and cooperation in ongoing counterterrorism operations.
Lake Chad, which borders Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and Niger, has remained a major hotspot for insurgent activities for more than a decade.
The remote islands and surrounding areas have long served as hideouts for Boko Haram fighters and members of the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Regional security forces have continued to battle the insurgent groups as attacks against military targets and civilian communities intensify across the Lake Chad basin.
