Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou on Wednesday urged the nation to stand up to Boko Haram Islamists from Nigeria who have launched repeated cross-border attacks in recent days.
“Our country will not go down in history as having been cowed by an enemy that wants to cover our country in darkness,” Issoufou said in a
speech broadcast on national radio, urging Nigeriens to support the country’s security forces in their battle against the militants.
Niamey has imposed a state of emergency in the Diffa region along the border with Nigeria over the Boko Haram violence. It also plans to
supply troops to a regional force to combat the militants.