Leadership (Abuja)
Prince Charles Dickson
6 February 2008
Borno — Even as there are conflicting reports regarding a possible ceasefire in Chad, hundreds of refugees, mostly women and children, have continued to flood Gamborun Gala in Borno State as a result of the crisis.
The defence minister, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, said yesterday that the crisis was unfortunate, adding that Nigeria was on alert in the event of a spillover into the country.
He stated that Chad had not known peace since oil was discovered in the country and blamed the influx of international oil explorers for the fighting.
He said Nigerian troops were on the alert and that Nigeria intended to operate diplomatically, because the problem is also closely linked with the other in Darfur.
The Nigerian authorities, despite the controversial ceasefire, have expressed readiness to tackle any outbreak of refugees.
The minister stated that Nigerian borders would remain open for humanitarian reasons to allow citizens fleeing the fighting to enter the country.
Meanwhile, the French government has said it was willing to do its duty to defend Chad's government.
President Nicolas Sarkozy said that if Chad was the victim of oppression, it would do what it needed to do to protect President Idris Derby.
Derby took power following a coup in 1990 and has since changed the constitution to allow unlimited terms for himself. His election victory in 2006 was widely viewed as fraudulent.
In the wake of the fighting, the African Union (AU) has warned that it would not recognize any government that comes into power by force in Chad.
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