This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-31521279
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nigeria army 'kills 300 Boko Haram fighters' | Nigeria army 'kills 300 Boko Haram fighters' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 300 Boko Haram fighters have been killed in military operations in north-east Nigeria, the army says. | More than 300 Boko Haram fighters have been killed in military operations in north-east Nigeria, the army says. |
| A number of militants had also been captured and weapons and equipment seized, defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said. | A number of militants had also been captured and weapons and equipment seized, defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said. |
| Two soldiers lost their lives and 10 were wounded during the operation in Borno state, he added. The deaths have not been independently verified. | Two soldiers lost their lives and 10 were wounded during the operation in Borno state, he added. The deaths have not been independently verified. |
| Meanwhile, 30 people have died in an air strike on the border with Niger. | |
| They were attending a funeral ceremony at a village near the Nigerian border when an unidentified plane began dropping bombs, local officials and humanitarian sources said. | They were attending a funeral ceremony at a village near the Nigerian border when an unidentified plane began dropping bombs, local officials and humanitarian sources said. |
| It is not yet clear who was responsible for the bombardment, but Nigeria has denied responsibility. | It is not yet clear who was responsible for the bombardment, but Nigeria has denied responsibility. |
| "It's not to my knowledge and there has not been any report from our people of such an incident," said Dele Alonge, a spokesman for Nigeria's air force. | "It's not to my knowledge and there has not been any report from our people of such an incident," said Dele Alonge, a spokesman for Nigeria's air force. |
| 'Desperate response' | 'Desperate response' |
| Niger has been the target of bombings in the past, blamed on Boko Haram since it widened its brutal insurgency. | Niger has been the target of bombings in the past, blamed on Boko Haram since it widened its brutal insurgency. |
| Thousands of civilians and soldiers have been killed during the group's campaign for a breakaway Islamic state. | Thousands of civilians and soldiers have been killed during the group's campaign for a breakaway Islamic state. |
| Niger, Chad and Cameroon have recently formed a military coalition with Nigeria to help combat the threat. | Niger, Chad and Cameroon have recently formed a military coalition with Nigeria to help combat the threat. |
| Nigerian forces have been accused of overstating enemy casualties in the past. | Nigerian forces have been accused of overstating enemy casualties in the past. |
| But the two-day operation against militants in Borno State had inflicted "massive casualties", Mr Olukolade said. | But the two-day operation against militants in Borno State had inflicted "massive casualties", Mr Olukolade said. |
| He told the BBC he was not surprised Boko Haram was continuing to carry out attacks despite "heat" from coalition troops. | He told the BBC he was not surprised Boko Haram was continuing to carry out attacks despite "heat" from coalition troops. |
| "What you see are elements of their desperate response to the ongoing onslaught on their various camps and locations. | "What you see are elements of their desperate response to the ongoing onslaught on their various camps and locations. |
| "It is expected and it will be contained accordingly," he added. | "It is expected and it will be contained accordingly," he added. |