Niger’s army killed over 280 Boko Haram terrorists in the latest onslaught against the jihadist group near the southeast border with Nigeria in days of land and air raids, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
More than 200 Boko Haram terrorist fighters were killed in a series of air strikes and 87 other terror militants were killed by ground troops since the offensive began on December 28, the ministry said in a statement read on state television.
The latest offensive against the Islamist terrorist group comes after Western African leaders held talks in November on the escalating attacks by the Nigerian jihadist group in the Lake Chad area, a key region where the borders of Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger meet.
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. These areas have suffered a string of recent attacks targeting military bases.
The Niger army reiterated that had lost no troops or equipment in its offensive and had successfully captured eight canoes and two rocket launchers as well as assault weapons, ammunition and vehicles belonging to the terrorists.
Boko Haram bloody insurgency began in northeastern Nigeria in 2009 but has since spread into neighbouring countries, prompting a regional military response.
