NEW BOKO HARAM FRONT

Chad, Niger take fight to extremists

N’DJAMENA, CHAD Soldiers from Chad and Niger launched the largest international push to defeat Nigeria’s Islamic extremists whose war has spilled over into neighbouring countries, offi cials and witnesses said Monday. Chad’s president has warned that the leader of Boko Haram must surrender or be killed.

At least 200 vehicles full of soldiers were spotted by residents crossing from Niger into Nigeria. Loud detonations were soon heard, signalling heavy combat with Boko Haram, said Adam Boukarna, a resident of the border town of Bosso, Niger.

The push marks a sharp escalation by African nations against Boko Haram nearly six years after the group began its insurrection. At an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Jan. 31, African leaders agreed to send 7,500 troops to fi ght Boko Haram. Later neighbouring countries agreed to increase the force to 8,750. UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon has said he supports the AU’s move.

The new offensive i ncludes troops from Niger for the fi rst time, in addition to Chadian forces that were already carrying out missions in Nigeria, Chadian Brig. Gen. Zakaria Ngobongue said Monday. He described extremism as a “cancer” in the region that could not be defeated by any one country alone.

“They are bandits and criminals who have nothing to do with religion,” Ngobongue said. Nigeria and its allies will defeat Boko Haram, said Mike Omeri, the Nigerian government spokesman on the insurgency.

Boko Haram’s announcement over the weekend that it is affi liated to the Islamic State extremist group “is an act of desperation and comes at a time when Boko Haram is suff ering heavy losses at the hands of the Nigerian Armed Forces and its regional partners,” said Omeri.

J E RO ME D E L AY/ T H E A S S O C I AT E D P R E S S Chadian troops, who already have been battling Boko Haram in Nigeria, have been joined by forces from Niger.