Chadian crisis: Ekhomu urges FG to mass troops in Lake Chad Basin area

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Security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has urged the Nigerian military to urgently create a firewall in the Northeast to prevent incursion into Nigeria by the various militia groups fighting for control of the Central African nation of Chad.

Ekhomu said aside from the rebel group (Front for Change and Concord in Chad), which assassinated President Idris Deby, there are myriad armed groups that could advance south into Nigeria or be pursued by the Chadian Army into the country, adding that either way, Nigeria must not be caught off guard by military adventurists.

Reacting to the death of Chadian leader and the resultant constitutional crisis in that country, Ekhomu said Deby’s military diplomacy strategy had resulted in a “militaristic culture” by elements of the Chadian military and armed rebels, noting that the famed military prowess of the Chadian Army was evidenced by a “Chadian swagger” that was exemplified by derisive comments made in April last year by Deby against Nigeria after the Wrath of Boma Operation that dislodged Boko Haram fighters from the Chadian side of the Lake Chad.

The security expert urged Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, and the military high command to send at least 5,000 soldiers to Kukawa Local Council and garrison them there, stressing that the massing of troops would deter Chadian adventurism into Nigeria and also place the military in an offensive role against Boko Haram/ISWAP in the Lake Chad Basin area.

He noted that would also prevent the influx of weapons from Chad and Libya into the Northeast conflict zone, a development that could further exacerbate the already dire security situation in Nigeria.

Ekhomu urged the Nigerian government to act expeditiously in dealing with the unfolding constitutional crisis in Chad, as it has serious security implications for Nigeria.