N'Djamena: Chad's government has declared a state of emergency in the Lake Chad region after attacks by Boko Haram militants from Nigeria.
The decision came after at least two people were killed in a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomb attack, the (BBC) reported.
The state of emergency will give the governor of the region the authority to ban the movement of people and vehicles, search homes and recover arms, the government announced following an extraordinary cabinet meeting.
Chad has been instrumental in helping Nigeria retake most of the areas Boko Haram had seized in northern Nigeria.
But in the last few months, the group has intensified attacks in remote areas around Lake Chad.
Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria agreed to establish the 8,700-strong force, but it has yet to start operations in earnest because of reported funding difficulties.
Aside from Chad, Boko Haram group's attacks have spread from north-eastern Nigeria, its traditional stronghold, to the neighbouring countries of Niger and Cameroon.
According to Amnesty International, at least 17,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since 2009, when the group launched its violent uprising in northern Nigeria.
QNA
