Boko Haram Insurgency: Army of Niger Arrests 20 Suspected Members

About 20 suspected Boko Haram terrorists from neighbouring Nigeria were arrested by the Army of Niger for allegedly masterminding attacks in the country's south east. This has been confirmed by local security officials on February 17, 2014, Monday.

The alleged plot to strike Diffa, a Nigerien town that borders Nigeria's Borno State, highlights the cross-border threats following a Nigerian army offensive against militants that has pushed thousands of refugees and some insurgents across the porous border into the Sahelian nation.

Gen. Seyni Garba, the Army Chief of Niger, revealed that the insurgents were preparing attacks on markets and other gathering places in retaliation for the country's stance against extremists in the region.

Niger has become a firm ally of France and the United States of America in the fight against al Qaeda-linked groups in the Sahel.

It is a base for French and U.S surveillance drones and Niamey has also sent 650 troops to the neighbouring Mali to back a French-led campaign against Islamists there.

"The bloodbath planned by the terrorist organization to punish our country has fortunately been avoided," Gen. Garba was quoted as saying in Monday's edition of Niger National newspaper Le Sahel.

Gen. Garba confirmed the arrests in Diffa while visiting Nigerien troops in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. However, he did not name the exacts number of neutralised militants.

According to a source of the Reuters, about 20 Boko Haram militants, all Nigerians, were detained. The source also confirmed that this terrorist cell was planning attacks on Diffa and the surrounding areas.