According to a statement released on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, the terrorists were killed in land and air strikes near the southeast border Niger shares with Nigeria in an offensive that started on December 28, 2018.

Niger's Defence Minister, Kalla Moutari, said, "Since Friday, there were air and ground operations against members of the terrorist militia in the region of Diffa in the south of the country, on the border with Nigeria. 

"The fighters were planning several major attacks from there."

Eight canoes, two rocket launchers, assault weapons, ammunition and vehicles were recovered by the Army with no casualties recorded.

Since Boko Haram's insurgency escalated in 2009, it has killed over 27,000 people and displaced millions in the northeast region, with its operations also extending to border countries like Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Niger is part of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a combined multinational formation from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria that is charged with bringing an end to Boko Haram's insurgency.