Niger’s army killed more than 280 Boko Haram militants near the southeast border with Nigeria in days of land and air raids, the defence ministry said Wednesday. In December, Niger’s defence 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. “Boko Haram fighters were able to get supplies, they were able to reinvigorate themselves,” said Moutari. In the same month, seven local employees of a French drilling firm and a government official were killed after suspected Boko Haram gunmen stormed their compound. That attack shattered months of relative calm in the Diffa region near the Lake Chad basin.

Source: Punch January 03, 2019 02:15 UTC