Boko Haram controls 4 African nations’ water resource

By Ahmed Adel

Lake Chad is the most important water resource for more than 40 million people live in lakesides countries of Cameroon, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria.

The location of the lake is a vital strategic stronghold for Nigeria-based terrorist group of Boko Haram, which intensified their attacks in the surrounding areas overlooking the the lake.

Two days ago, Boko haram fighters attacked security forces stationing on the banks of the lake, killing six people. The militant group announced its responsibility for the attack in retaliation for killing its fighters a day before their attack.

All attackers fled from the joint forces’ pursuit after killing the civilians and police personnel, a security source told AFP.

In July, the group militants attacked residents of a village south of Daboua near the Lake in Chad, killing 18 civilians.

It was estimated that the number of Boko Haram fighters stationing near the lake reached 4,000 militants. The group seeks increasing their number as much as possible, particularly after anti-Boko Haram joint task forces of four countries (Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger) launched arrest campaigns on suspects.

Boko Haram adopts two-way style of carrying out their attacks: First, launching mass raids, while the second is committing suicide attack to control over the whole region of Lake Chad.

Boko Haram’s attacks on Lake Chad came as a result of the joint military alliance among  the four countries, said  Abu al-Fadl al-Isnawi, a researcher in terrorist groups.

The militant group is trying in all means to launch preemptive attacks against the interests of European countries in that region, he added, noting that Boko Haram’s increasing influence in the region will come to an end soon as it seeks extending its full control over the region.

Amani Tawil, head of the African Studies Unit at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS)  told al-Margea that the Boko Haram group is expanding its presence in the region, but its move collided with the presence of French troops, which stationed around the lake to protect the French interests.