Nigerien security forces have killed 57 Boko Haram extremists who had attacked a village in the eastern Diffa region overnight, the country’s Ministry of Defense says.
According to the ministry 15 soldiers and two civilians were wounded in fighting with the extremists in Gueskerou, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Diffa which is in the southeast of Niger.
“Among the enemy there were 57 terrorists killed, a Toyota pick-up recovered along with a 60 mm mortar, two RPG 7s (rocket propelled grenade launchers), five machine guns, 20 AK-47s and a lot of ammunition,” the statement said.
Spokesman Col. Toure Abdoul Aziz said the Ministry of Defense, in the name of the president, congratulated security forces for gains against Nigerian-based Boko Haram extremists, whose seven-year insurgency has killed at least 20,000 people.
Government forces are working to identify the body of one of those killed who is believed to be a Boko Haram leader, according to a security source who spoke to AFP on Monday.
Niger contributes to the multi-national force set up to fight Boko Haram in the region.
