Abuja, June 25 (IANS): At least 15 Boko Haram terrorists were killed and 20 others arrested by Niger's Defence and Security Forces (FDS) in clashes that occurred between June 18 and 23 in the western African republic's Diffa region near the border with Nigeria, an official source said.

Following an attack carried out on June 17 in Niger's Gueskerou commune by the Islamist sect, in which 38 civilians were killed, FDS launched ground and air operations in the area, Xinhua reported.

The spokesman for Niger's Defence ministry Moustapha Ledru said at least 15 terrorists have been killed, 20 others arrested, one armoured vehicle recovered and 20 motorcycles destroyed during the latest army operation.

For over three months, Niger, just like other countries in the Lake Chad Basin, has come under deadly attacks from Boko Haram from its bases in Nigeria, leaving scores of civilians and soldiers dead.

Nigerien and Chadian forces are currently engaged in a large scale operation against the Boko Haram sect to secure the Lake Chad basin and stop further attacks in the Nigerien regions of Diffa and Bosso.