Boko Haram attacks Niger army base

Niamey - Suspected Boko Haram fighters in motorised canoes have 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, says Niger's defense ministry.

The army may have suffered "heavy losses" in the attack on Karamga Island, said a Niger military source.

Motorised canoes

Casualty figures were not provided in a defence ministry statement.

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.

The ministry said in the latest attack, the assailants approached at dawn in about 10 motorised canoes.

"Operations are ongoing with the aid of allies" to put an end to the insurgent movement, the statement said.

Violence

Niger joined a regional offensive earlier this year that is credited with retaking large swaths of territory in Nigeria from Boko Haram. The original plans called for a 8 750-member regional force with troops also coming from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.

In addition to the Lake Chad violence, Niger towns bordering Nigeria were targeted in the early weeks of the offensive.