Confusion in Niger over offensive by multinational force against Boko Haram

 Relative calm has been restored in the town of Diffa, but a local resident told Xinhua on phone on Wednesday that anxiety still persists among locals in this southeast region of the country.

"Patrols are still going on in the region because the population in this zone live in fear of more Boko Haram attacks," he said.

On Tuesday, the sect's fighters carried out a fresh attack in two villages in Kablawa, some 90 km from Diffa. The attack occurred when villagers were carrying out their evening prayers.

The assailants killed an imam in one of the localities and carried away stocks of food prepared by the locals.

Contrary to earlier announcements, the multinational force that was formed to fight against Boko Haram has not yet launched an offensive at the border between Niger and Nigeria, a local source said.

"The troops have not yet arrived in Diffa and the army is just carrying out routine operations to prevent any eventual attacks by the terrorist group," the source added.

The regional government who spoke to Xinhua, said the situation was under control, but did not say when the said offensive will start.

In early June, Niger's Defense Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou said the military operation was set to start in Niger's southeast region under the leadership of Nigerian General Lamidi Adeosun, and that Niger and Chad would also mobilize their troops.

"Nigeria will launch the offensive from its southern territory, while Cameroon would also do the same, the objective being to eliminate Boko Haram," Massaoudou said.

"Chadian soldiers will soon arrive in Niger. We shall be vulnerable if we do not act immediately," he said then.

"Our objective is to have our forces on the other side of the border. Our strategic interest is to occupy northern Nigeria to protect our borders," he continued, adding that "Abuja had already authorized the occupation."

On June 7, a deadly offensive by Boko Haram in Bosso, southern Niger, left 26 Nigerien and two Nigerian soldiers dead. 

source : xinhua