Chadian soldiers in new offensive against Boko Haram

The armies of Niger and Chad on Sunday
launched a major ground and air offensive against
Islamist extremist group Boko Haram in
northeastern Nigeria, a source from the Niger
government said.
The offensive opened up a new front against the
Islamists as part of regional efforts to combat
them and came after Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to the
Islamic State group in an audio message.
“An offensive is underway against Boko Haram,”
the source told AFP. “Very early this morning, the
troops from Niger and Chad began an offensive
against Boko Haram… in the area of Bosso and
near to Diffa.”
A resident of Diffa, located in Niger near the
Nigerian border, told AFP he saw troops headed
toward the frontier early Sunday followed by the
sounds of heavy arms fire.
“After some time, the detonations grew further
away, an apparent sign that the troops were
moving inside Nigeria,” he said.
Privately owned radio station Anfani, based in
Diffa, reported more than 200 vehicles, including
those equipped with machine guns as well as
tanks, ambulances, water tankers and transport
trucks, in a convoy moving toward the Nigerian
border.
It also reported that aircraft had targeted Boko
Haram positions on Saturday and early Sunday.
An aid worker told AFP heavy arms fire was
coming from the direction of the Doutchi bridge
connecting Niger to Nigeria on Sunday morning

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