Soldiers from neighbouring Chad and Niger have killed 228 members of the terrorist group Boko Haram in northern Nigeria's strategic border town of Damask, dpa reported. "Nigerien and Chadian defence forces have been engaging in land and air operations to destroy Boko Haram bases since March 8," said Niger army spokesman Moustapha Ledru as he disclosed the death toll late on Wednesday. The insurgents have been in control of Damask, in Borno State, since November. Two tanks, 10 vehicles and 74 motorcycles were destroyed during the clashes, the spokesman said. Numerous weapons and ammunition were recovered. Niger declared a state of emergency in the Diffa region, which borders Borno State, after Boko Haram launched several cross-border attacks out of Damask in February, killing dozens of people. Chad's army, for its part, has been actively supporting Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram after the terrorists attacked the town of Baga, which borders Lake Chad, in early January.
