Chad and Niger troops have recaptured the northeastern Nigerian town of Gachagar from Boko Haram, as part of a regional offensive to combat the Islamist insurgents, Niger’s defence minister said on Thursday.

The operation in Gachagar, a town near Nigeria’s border with Niger, was carried out over the past few days and involved “air and ground bombardments”, Defence Minister Mahamadou Karidjo said.

He said there were “a few skirmishes” with the militants but did not give details of any casualties.

The troops will now redeploy to Malam Fatori, another border town, said Karidjo.

There has been contradictory information about the town, with Niger’s army saying that Boko Haram insurgents had regrouped near Malam Fatori and the Nigerian army saying it had the situation there under control.

Regional forces have gained ground against Boko Haram in recent weeks, retaking the town of Damasak, around 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the city of Diffa in Niger.

“Targeted air strikes have been ongoing for several days against the positions of Boko Haram in Nigerian territory,” an official from Diffa municipality said.

The jihadists made sweeping territorial gains in Nigeria’s northeast in 2014 but appears to have been weakened by the sustained regional fight-back since February.

There are fears, however, that the group, which recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, could target people during Nigeria’s upcoming elections.

More than 13,000 people have been killed and some 1.5 million made homeless since Boko Haram launched its bloody insurgency in 2009.

Mounting attacks by the Nigerian militants in neighbouring countries have led the African Union to endorse the creation of an additional regional force of up to 10,000 troops to fight the group.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/03/27/chad-niger-troops-reclaim-gachagar-from-boko-haram/

Good Job Boys!!
Now let's wipe dem all off from the Surface of the Earth!!!

Why is it always that it is only Chad, Niger and Cameroun soldiers that are always recapturing Nigerian towns, Nigerian soldiers seems to be doing nothing?

Tomorrow's news is today.
These ones concern us less.
Chad and Niger, give us a break.

sinkhole:
Why is it always that it is only Chad, Niger and Cameroun soldiers that are always recapturing Nigerian towns, Nigerian soldiers seems to be doing nothing?

Nigeria army are working with them... Most of the information about Boko haram hide out is being pass to the other amry.. They now share information...

Theey don't want anybody to say that they are killing innocent people.. Remember: Attack to Bokoharram is an Attack to the North!!!

macpetrus:


Nigeria army are working with them... Most of the information about Boko haram hide out is being pass to the other amry.. They now share information...

Theey don't want anybody to say that they are killing innocent people.. Remember: Attack to Bokoharram is an Attack to the North!!!

But news reports are not doing justice to the image of NA and Nigeria in general, why cant they say Joint Military Force captured Nigerian towns instead of saying Chad and Niger soldiers captured Nigerian towns? This is shame, they are shaming Nigeria!

watch the news as it changes soon.u will find out that just like mallan fatori and gamboru .they especially the chadians did absolutely nothing.just watch..

If Nigerian soldiers could say they were poorly equipped, how do you expect the foreign media to react? They dont trust the Nigerian Army because there has been so many conflicting reports.
All the same, I think the Nigerian Army has done a good job with soldiers laying their lives down for us.
It's not a big deal that Chadian & Nigerien Army are helping, we have always been helping other countries in their peace keeping. Egypt is still asking for our support to battle isis.

God bless the NA

sinkhole:
But news reports are not doing justice to the image of NA and Nigeria in general, why cant they say Joint Military Force captured Nigerian towns instead of saying Chad and Niger soldiers captured Nigerian towns? This is shame, they are shaming Nigeria!

It is not a shame... Just that in a game of war, everybody keep a score card.. In as much as peace return to the area.. I won't call it a shame to Nigeria