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| Boko Haram launches first attack in Niger | Boko Haram launches first attack in Niger |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram has attacked a town in Niger for the first time, witnesses say. | The Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram has attacked a town in Niger for the first time, witnesses say. |
| Niger's government said it killed more than 100 of the group's fighters as it repulsed the attack on the border town of Bosso. | Niger's government said it killed more than 100 of the group's fighters as it repulsed the attack on the border town of Bosso. |
| The group reportedly killed at least 70 people in an attack on the town of Fotokol in Cameroon on Wednesday. | The group reportedly killed at least 70 people in an attack on the town of Fotokol in Cameroon on Wednesday. |
| The Boko Haram insurgency has left thousands dead and displaced more than a million over the past six years. | The Boko Haram insurgency has left thousands dead and displaced more than a million over the past six years. |
| The militants control a large stretch of land in north-eastern Nigeria. | The militants control a large stretch of land in north-eastern Nigeria. |
| Its neighbours have promised to send troops to help it fight the militants, who are now attacking those countries. | Its neighbours have promised to send troops to help it fight the militants, who are now attacking those countries. |
| On Friday, US intelligence officials said that they believed Boko Haram had up to 6,000 "hardcore" fighters, according to Reuters news agency. | |
| Despite this, they did not believe the group posed a major threat to Nigeria's oilfields. | |
| The unnamed officials told Reuters that the militants were thought to be still holding the 300 schoolgirls that they kidnapped last year and had dispersed them to multiple locations. | |
| Islamists pushed back | Islamists pushed back |
| Boko Haram militants reportedly attacked Bosso early in the morning with heavy weapons, causing residents to flee or hide indoors. | |
| One resident told AFP news agency: "We can hear the sound of weapons all around the town, often very near our windows. | |
| "There is the noise of heavy weapons and of light arms, making our houses shake." | "There is the noise of heavy weapons and of light arms, making our houses shake." |
| Niger later said it had successfully pushed back the militants, killing 109. The country's defence minister, Mahamadou Karidjo, said four soldiers and a civilian were also killed. | Niger later said it had successfully pushed back the militants, killing 109. The country's defence minister, Mahamadou Karidjo, said four soldiers and a civilian were also killed. |
| Bosso lies just across the border from Nigeria's Borno state, one of the areas worst affected by Islamist violence. | Bosso lies just across the border from Nigeria's Borno state, one of the areas worst affected by Islamist violence. |
| The town is home to thousands of Nigerian refugees who have fled Boko Haram. | The town is home to thousands of Nigerian refugees who have fled Boko Haram. |
| The militant group, which has sworn allegiance to Islamic State and desires its own caliphate in Nigeria, has killed thousands and displaced millions in the country's north-east. | The militant group, which has sworn allegiance to Islamic State and desires its own caliphate in Nigeria, has killed thousands and displaced millions in the country's north-east. |
| It is now threatening Chad, Niger and Cameroon, prompting Chad to deploy 2,500 troops to border areas including Bosso. | It is now threatening Chad, Niger and Cameroon, prompting Chad to deploy 2,500 troops to border areas including Bosso. |
| Chad sent troops to Cameroon last month to join the offensive against Boko Haram, following widespread criticism of the Nigerian army's failure to curb the insurgency. | Chad sent troops to Cameroon last month to join the offensive against Boko Haram, following widespread criticism of the Nigerian army's failure to curb the insurgency. |