Ten soldiers killed in Boko Haram battle for northern Nigerian towns

A further 30 soldiers from neighbouring Niger and Chad were wounded in clashes over the towns of Malam Fatouri and Damasak

Chadian troops participate in the closing ceremony in an army base in N'djamena, Chad; ten Chadian soldiers have died during fighting with Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria (AP)

Ten Chadian soldiers died during fighting to free two towns in northern Nigeria from the grip of Boko Haram, the first gains against the extreme jihadist group since a joint offensive was launched with Niger at the weekend.

A further 30 soldiers from neighbouring Niger and Chad were wounded in clashes over the towns of Malam Fatouri and Damasak, a day after thousands of troops crossed the border to retake areas held by Boko Haram, whose insurgency has forced Nigeria to delay its presidential election.

“We have kicked the enemy out of these areas and they are now under our control,” said a Niger military source.

Some 300 Boko Haram fighters were killed, according to the Niger military source, although there was no official confirmation.

At the weekend the group’s leaders, who aim to carve out a caliphate in Nigeria’s northeast, pledged allegiance to Isis, which rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria. There was no immediate comment from Nigeria, which has launched its own offensive against the jihadists.

REUTERS