By Abu-Faisal Haroun
The Nigerien army said it has intercepted around 1,400 Boko Haram militants who were fleeing to Niger after clashing with rival jihadist group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with around 30 of them being killed.
The army caught the followers, mostly women and children, who were trying to reach the marshlands of Lake Chad, known to be a bolthole for jihadists.
The movement was first detected on March 7th, while walking along the Kamadougou Yoge River, which marks the border between Nigeria and Niger.
Six days later, Nigerien troops in a regional anti-jihadist task force killed 20 militants and arrested 83 others.
The southeastern region of Diffa, which has borne the brunt of jihadist attacks over the years, has been relatively calm since the beginning of 2023.
However, rebels have planted landmines that continue to claim lives.
Bay States News 