Chad, Niger troops push Boko Haram out of two Nigerian towns

roops from Chad and Niger have freed two towns in northern Nigeria previously held by Boko Haram, the first gains made in a joint offensive launched at the weekend, military sources said on Monday.
About 30 Nigerien and Chadian soldiers were injured in fighting over Malam Fatouri and Damasak, a day after thousands of troops crossed the border to retake areas held by the feared armed group, whose insurgency has forced Nigeria to delay an election and neighbors to mobilize their armies.
A Chadian officer, who asked not to be named, said about 10 Chadian soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in fighting for the towns. There was no official comment from Chad's army.
"We have kicked the enemy out of these areas and they are now under our control," one of the military sources said.
Damasak, the town furthest into Nigeria, is 6 miles south of the Niger border, where Niger and Chadian troops have been massing in recent weeks ahead of the offensive.
The source said that hundreds of Boko Haram fighters had been killed in combat. There was no official confirmation of the toll and it was not possible to verify the figure.
"We had permission from Nigeria for this action," the source said. There was no immediate comment from Nigeria, which has launched its own offensive against the group, whose gains forced Nigeria to delay elections that were due in February.