Niger: Boko Haram attacks Niger army base, military source warns of heavy losses
Suspected Boko Haram fighters in motorized canoes attacked a Niger army base on an island in Lake Chad, the body of water touching all four countries that have been targeted by Nigeria’s Islamic insurgency, Niger’s defence ministry said Saturday.
The army may have suffered “heavy losses” in the attack on Karamga Island, said a Niger military source in the region who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.
Casualty figures were not provided in a defence ministry statement broadcast Saturday night on state television.
A similar attack on Karamga Island in February killed seven Niger soldiers, and 14 Boko Haram fighters were also killed, military officials said at the time.