Niger kills over 500 Boko Haram militants: Police department

Africa, News March 12, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

Niger says it has killed more than 500 members of the Boko Haram terrorist group since February 2015.

Niger’s police spokesman Captain Adili Toro said on Wednesday that some 513 terrorists had been killed since February 8, adding this number does not take into account those killed in land and air operations launched on Sunday jointly by the armies of Niger and Chad against Boko Haram militants in Nigeria.

Niger has also lost 24 soldiers in the operations that have also killed at least one civilian and wounded 38 soldiers, Toro stated.

On March 8, Nigerien and Chadian military forces launched a joint operation against the Takfiri terrorist group in northeastern Nigeria.

The military operation took place following the African Union’s final decision to establish a regional force of up to 10,000 men to battle the terrorist group, which has pledged allegiance to ISIL Takfiris.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” controls parts of northeastern Nigeria and says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its activities in 2009, which have left over 13,000 people dead and 1.5 million displaced.

Boko Haram has also conducted military operations in Nigeria’s neighboring countries Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.

XLS/AS/MHB