At least 40 civilians were killed between Wednesday night and Thursday morning in attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group in Niger's far eastern localities of Lamana and Ingoumaoua, near the Nigerian border, a private radio has reported.
According to "Anfani" radio station, some people were shot at, while others were grouped into different houses by the Islamist sect's members who later set the houses on fire, Xinhua news agency reported.
Several injured people were admitted at the Diffa regional hospital, the same source said, adding that Nigerien soldiers were still pursuing the attackers.
In the last three months, Niger, like other neighbouring countries of Lake Chad Basin, has come under deadly Boko Haram attacks which have left many civilians and soldiers dead.
Nigerian and Chadian troops are still engaged in a large scale operation against the Boko Haram.
