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Niger has agreed to transfer hundreds of prisoners from the militant Islamist group Boko Haram back to their home country of Nigeria. The prisoners are currently being held in several detention centers all of which are overpopulated due to arrests of Boko Haram militants.

Boko Haram militants pose a threat not only to Nigeria but the entire Lake Chad basin region. Niger is one of the countries fighting the group. Along with Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon, it formed a joint military task force this year. Niger earlier also declared a state of emergency in an effort to improve security. Authorities have made hundeds of arrests.