Alwaght-At least 14 Takfiri Boko Haram militants have been killed in clashes with Nigerien army forces after an attack by the group in southeastern Niger.
According to a Saturday military report, Boko Haram raided “a village near Lake Chad on Friday night.”
“Seven Niger soldiers were killed and two others wounded” in the assault, the report said, adding, “Boko Haram lost 14 members.”
A Chadian security source, meanwhile, said that fighting occurred in Karouga, near the border dividing Niger, Nigeria, and Chad.
The Takfiri militants are said to have later attempted to enter Chadian territory by crossing Lake Chad, but were confronted by Chadian aircraft, which destroyed their boats.
The military forces of Niger contribute to a regional coalition in the area against Boko Haram militants. The West African country has so far seen several attacks blamed on Boko Haram, whose militancy has spilled over the borders of Nigeria – where the group is based – into neighboring countries.
Nigeria’s recapture of Baga
The development came as Nigeria’s army said it has regained control of the town of Baga from Boko Haram, which had overrun the town more than a month ago.
Defense spokesperson Chris Olukolade said that the fishing hub, located on the shore of Lake Chad in the far north of Borno State, northeast Nigeria, was recaptured on Saturday morning, and “a large number of terrorists” drowned in Lake Chad.
Nigeria’s military this week seized Monguno, a garrison town 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Baga.
Anti-Boko Haram coalition
The five countries of Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Benin pledged earlier in February to deploy an 8,700-strong force to fight the Boko Haram militancy in the region around Lake Chad.
Boko Haram waged its brutal militancy six years ago; the conflict has killed over 13,000 people since then.
The extremist group has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its operations in 2009.
