Niger: Army Kills At Least 280 Boko Haram Militants

Local Editor

The Niger army killed more than 280 Boko Haram militants near the southeast border with Nigeria in days of land and air raids, the country’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

More than 200 militants were killed in airstrikes and a further 87 by ground troops since the offensive began on Dec. 28, the ministry said in a statement read on state television.

It comes after Western African leaders held talks in November on the escalating attacks by the Nigerian group in the Lake Chad area, a strategic region where the borders of Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger converge.

The operations were carried out on the islands of Lake Chad and along the Komadougou Yobe River which serves as a natural border between Niger and Nigeria, which has suffered a string of recent attacks on its military bases.

The Niger army said it had lost no troops or equipment in its offensive and had seized eight canoes and two rocket launchers as well as assault weapons, ammunition and vehicles.

In December, Niger's defense minister said he feared Boko Haram would launch renewed attacks on its positions from January, when the Komadougou Yobe River’s waters which usually prevent incursions begin to recede.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team