Niger’s army repelled an attack by
Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram on
the border town of Diffa on Sunday but
a suicide bomber struck in the town’s
market, killing at least one person and
injuring several more, residents said.
It was the second attack by Boko Haram
in three days on the border region of
Niger, where some 2,500 Chadian troops
have gathered ahead of a planned
military offensive by a coalition of
regional powers against the Islamist
group.
Niger’s parliament is due to vote on
Monday on a proposal by the
government to send its troops into
Nigeria to help fight Boko Haram.
Residents said fighting was heard
between around 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
(0600 to 10000 GMT) on the outskirts of
the town.
“There was fighting between security forces
and elements of Boko Haram who tried to
enter the town,” said a military source.
“Fighting is taking place around the bridge
at Doutchi. There are many dead.”
Local residents said a suicide bomber
then struck Diffa’s market.
“It was a young boy who was carrying the
explosives in a plastic cover,” said one
resident who gave his name as
Aboubakar. “I saw 10 people injured and
at least one dead.”
Chadian forces already crossed into
Nigeria last week to the south of Lake
Chad to attack Boko Haram in the town
of Gambaru, bordering Cameroon.
On Saturday, the governments of
Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and
Benin agreed to establish an 8,700
strong regional force.
Chad has deployed some 2,500 soldiers
to neighbouring Cameroon and Niger as
part of this effort.
Boko Haram has seized territory in
northeastern Nigeria as part of a five-
year insurgency to carve out an Islamist
state on the territory of Africa’s top oil
producer and biggest economy. Around
10,000 people were killed last year.
Nigeria’s electoral commission on
Saturday postponed a presidential
election that had been scheduled for next
weekend until March 28 due to security
concerns over Boko Haram’s insurgency.
