Striking Images Of The Chadian Army Fighting Boko Haram In Nigeria

Chadian military clashed with Boko Haram in Nigeria this week after the governments of Niger, Cameroon, and Chad launched a military campaign to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.

A Chadian soldier poses for a picture at the front line during battle against insurgent group Boko Haram in Gambaru, February 26, 2015.

Chadian soldiers rest near the front line in the war against insurgent group Boko Haram in Gambaru, Nigeria, February 26, 2015. Picture taken February 26, 2015.

Chadian soldiers push a military pickup truck to get it out of the sand near the front line in the war against insurgent group Boko Haram in Gambaru, Nigeria, February 26, 2015. 

Chad’s army has claimed to have killed 207 Boko Haram fighters in clashes in Gambaru.

Gambaru, close to Nigeria-Cameroon border, has been a site of regular attacks from the insurgent group in the past several months. 

One Chadian soldier was killed and at least nine were injured in battles this week.

Chadian soldiers stand in front of the body of a man they say was a Boko Haram fighter the Chadian military had killed in a battle

 Chadian soldiers drive to the front line during battle.

The Chadian military told Reuters they took a Boko Haram fighter, nicknamed “The Butcher,” captive on a field base in Gambaru, along other men suspected of being Boko Haram fighters.

Some children of Boko Haram soldiers soldiers are reportedly in the hands of the Chadian military as well.

 “The Butcher” in captivity with the Chadian military.

A prisoner suspected of being a member of insurgent group Boko Haram sits in the field base of Chadian soldiers in Gambaru. 

A boy, who the Chadian military say is the son of a Boko Haram fighter the Chadian military killed during battle, stands next to soldiers in Gambaru.

The military also claimed to have seized two pick-up trucks, along with arms and ammunition, during warfare earlier this week.

Weapons belonging to insurgent group Boko Haram that Chadian military say they took during battle. 

A Chadian soldier peers into a burnt armoured vehicle, which the Chadian military say belonged to insurgent group Boko Haram, after the Chadians destroyed it during battle. 
 

The logo of insurgent group Boko Haram is seen on the cracked windshield of an armored vehicle which Chadian military say they destroyed in battle on Feb. 26.

Chad, who is spearheading efforts to stop the spread of the insurgent group, first deployed troops last month as Boko Haram became an increasingly threatening prospect to Nigeria’s neighboring nations.

 Chadian soldiers drive near the front line in the war against Boko Haram.

 Chadian soldiers on the front line.

 A Chadian soldier. 

 Chadian soldiers cook food near the front line during battle. 

In January, the African Union authorized creating a regional force comprised of Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, which will also include Benin.

 

The African Union is now working to get a U.N. Security Council mandate for the military operation in Nigeria.

 Chadian soldiers drive to the front line in the war against insurgent group Boko Haram in Gambaru, Nigeria