Thousands flee Boko Haram attacks in Niger's Diffa region

Thousands of residents of Nigerien towns of Bosso and Diffa have fled from their homes after five days of deadly attacks carried out by the Boko Haram islamist sect, official sources said Tuesday.

Since Friday last week, the two towns have come under heavy attacks from Boko Haram which was operating from its bases in neighboring Nigeria.

Despite the heavy presence of defense and security forces in the affected regions, thousands of residents keep fleeing, in buses, motorcycles or even on foot.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Niger's Foreign Minister Bazoum Mohamed said the situation was worsening in Diffa where residents are fleeing due to fears of more Boko Haram attacks.

"These people are literally exposed at the moment in extremely deplorable conditions, along roads that are far from being secure and houses that cannot guarantee their safety," he said.

A private local radio station said over 85 percent of Diffa residents had fled the region and were heading to neighboring towns of Maine-Soroa and Zinder.

"Both public and private services have been shut. Everything has been stopped in Diffa," the radio station said in its Tuesday news broadcast.

Niger's Defense Minister Karidjo Mahamadou termed the prevailing conditions in Diffa as "very serious and very dramatic. "

He however said all measures will be taken, in collaboration with the army and humanitarian organizations, to secure the population and ensure they get basic needs such as food and shelter. Endi