Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Chadian troops enter Nigeria, fight Boko Haram

3 February 2015, 7:31 pm Edit

Chad sent ground troops into Nigeria for the first time on Tuesday to fight Boko Haram in a clear sign of increased regional pressure on the Islamist rebels after weeks of surging violence.

For almost an hour, Chadian warplanes struck Boko Haram positions, then armored vehicles rolled across the bridge linking Fotokol town in Cameroon with Gamboru in Nigeria, clearing the way for the infantry.

The action comes after the African Union last week backed a new five-nation, 7,500-strong force to take on Boko Haram because of growing fears about its threat to regional security.

— AFP