Niger troops have killed 57 Boko Haram jihadists during fighting in the southeast Niger, a security source told AFP Monday.

Ten soldiers were slightly injured in the exchanges which broke out late Sunday after a large group of Islamist fighters arrived on motorbikes and cars, a member of the security forces said.

The Boko Haram fighters were "clearly well-trained and certainly well informed about our positions," the source said.

The fighting took place in Gueskerou, a village in the West African country's southeastern region of Diffa bordering Nigeria, from where a bloody uprising by Boko Haram fighters has spilled over.

Government forces are working to identify the body of one of those killed who is believed to be a Boko Haram leader, according to the source.

The military pushed the fighters back towards Nigeria and seized firearms, munition and three vehicles, including one equipped with a mounted weapon stolen from the military in the town of Bosso last June, the source added.

Boko Haram's insurgency began in northeast Nigeria and has spread to Chad, Cameroon and Niger, claiming more than 20,000 lives and displaced 2.6 million people.

Niger declared a state of emergency in Diffa, home to more than 300,000 refugees and internally displaced people.

Tweet

White House warns Syria on chemical, barrel bomb use
Washington (AFP) April 10, 2017
The White House on Monday warned Syria that further use of chemical weapons or chlorine-laden barrel bombs could bring US military retaliation. Broadening its warning to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, White House spokesman Sean Spicer indicated that such attacks were unacceptable. "If you gas a baby or drop a barrel bomb onto innocent people, you will see a response from this presiden ... read more

Related Links
The Long War - Doctrine and Application

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only