Chadians take back militant-held town

But Nigeria civilians said already slain

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria -- Chadian troops seized a strategic northeast Nigerian town from Boko Haram, but not before the Islamic extremists killed hundreds of civilians, Chad's military said.

The Chadian forces regained control Monday of Dikwa, a town occupied by the militants for weeks, said Chadian military spokesman Col. Azem Bermandoua.

One soldier was killed and 34 were wounded, most by a suicide car bomber, Bermandoua said. Dikwa is near two border crossings with Chad and a route that leads north to Lake Chad.

Southwest of Dikwa, Nigerian troops on Monday repelled an attack by Boko Haram on Konduga, killing more than 70 insurgents, according to a Nigerian corporal who helped defend the town. A security official confirmed the attack. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to reporters.

The military had been warned of the attack and was well-prepared to drive back the insurgents, the corporal said.

Konduga has been attacked many times in recent months because it is near Maiduguri, the city 25 miles away that is the birthplace of Boko Haram.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said Tuesday that "utmost care was being taken by the federal government to avoid collateral damage to the lives and properties of civilians as the military intensifies its ongoing offensive against Boko Haram."

The military has been accused of abuses including indiscriminate killings of civilians. Jonathan said his government has investigated previous reports of abuse and that they "were mostly blown out of proportion for political reasons."

The United Nations said Tuesday that fighting in the northeast forced 16,000 Nigerians to flee across the border into Cameroon over the weekend. About 1.6 million Nigerians have been forced from their homes, and hundreds of girls and men have been kidnapped in the 6-year-old Islamic uprising by Boko Haram.

The Islamic extremists' attacks have spread across borders into Cameroon, Chad and Niger, which are forming a multinational force to fight the militants.

About 10,000 people were killed last year, compared with 2,000 in the four previous years, according to the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.

A Section on 03/04/2015

Upcoming Events