Niger army clashes with Boko Haram in Diffa region

Niger’s army has killed 15 Boko Haram Islamic extremists, captured 20 others and destroyed ammunition cars and motorcycles from the militants, a military spokesperson said.
The attack in Niger by its military came the night after Boko Haram members had attacked the village of Yebbi in the Diffa region on Tuesday night, killing five residents and burning more than
100 homes, army spokesperson Colonel Michel Moustapha Ledru said on state TV late on Wednesday night.
The Nigerian extremist group began launching cross border attacks this year after international forces, including Niger’s army, began fighting the insurgency. Attacks last week in two villages in Niger left more than 40 people dead.
“We honour the defence and security forces who have proven their professionalism in the response against terrorist elements of Boko Haram,” Ledru said.
Boko Haram’s six-year-old uprising, which began in northeastern Nigeria, is blamed for the deaths of 13 000 people and the displacement of more than 1.5 million.