109 Boko Haram fighters dead after first attack on Niger

NIAMEY, Feb 7 (AP): A total of 109 Boko Haram fighters were killed by soldiers responding to attacks on two towns in Niger near the border with Nigeria on Friday, Niger's defense minister said.

In a statement read out on state television late Friday, Mahamadou Karijo said four soldiers were killed and 17 wounded in fighting in the towns of Bosso and Diffa. He said two soldiers were missing and a civilian was also killed.

"Calm has returned to the two localities and the situation is under control," Karijo said.

Chadian troops supported Niger's soldiers in Bosso, and Boko Haram suffered "heavy casualties" in Diffa, he said. It was not possible to verify the figures he provided.

Boko Haram has openly threatened to attack other countries taking part in the military effort against their insurgency, which is blamed for 10,000 deaths over the past year.