Chadian–Nigerian War

Chadian–Nigerian War
	; Map of Lake Chad
Date	April 1983[1]
Location	Borno State, Nigeria, and Lac, Chad
Result	Nigerian victory
Belligerents
Nigeria	Chad
Commanders and leaders
Shehu Shagari; Muhammadu Buhari	Hissène Habré; Idriss Déby
Casualties and losses
	More than 100 casualties[2]

The Chadian–Nigerian War was a brief and obscure war that was fought over the control of islands on Lake Chad. The war started when a force led by Chadian Army chief-of-staff Idriss Déby invaded parts of Nigeria's Borno State, and ended with a Nigerian force led by Muhammadu Buhari expelling the Chadians and briefly invading Chadian territory.[2]

The war

The war occurred during the Chadian–Libyan conflict, and shortly after Chad had experienced a civil war in which Nigerian peacekeepers had found themselves caught in the crossfire. Further complicating Chadian-Nigerian relations were territorial disputes around Lake Chad, which had long been a source of tensions.

On April 18, 1983, a Chadian force invaded and occupied 19 islands on Lake Chad. Acting independently of the Nigerian government, Muhammadu Buhari, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Third Armoured Division of Jos,[3] unilaterally closed the Chadian-Nigerian border and mobilized his forces. The Nigerian government under President Shehu Shagari ordered Buhari to reopen the border, but he openly refused, opting to expel the Chadian troops without the blessings of the government. The Nigerian troops successfully recaptured the islands, and also pursued the Chadians 50 kilometers across the borders.[1]

Aftermath

The war was one of the causes behind the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état. Demonstrating President Shagari's powerlessness vis-à-vis his officers, which had enabled Buhari to openly act against orders, it highlighted the tensions between the military and the civilian government. On December 31, 1983, Muhammadu Buhari seized power in Nigeria, ending the Second Nigerian Republic.[1]

References

Omoigui, Nowa. "HISTORY OF CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN NIGERIA (5)*: THE SECOND TRANSITION (1979-83, Part 2)*". Gamji. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
Akinsanya, Adeoye A. (2013). An Introduction to Political Science in Nigeria. John Adebunmi Ayoade. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-7618-5743-3.
Matthews, Martin P. Nigeria: current issues and historical background. p. 121.

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[Omoigui-1] Omoigui, Nowa. "HISTORY OF CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN NIGERIA (5)*: THE SECOND TRANSITION (1979-83, Part 2)*". Gamji. Retrieved 19 January 2015.

[Ayoade22-2] Akinsanya, Adeoye A. (2013). An Introduction to Political Science in Nigeria. John Adebunmi Ayoade. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-7618-5743-3.

[3] Matthews, Martin P. Nigeria: current issues and historical background. p. 121.