Africa
29 January 2015
Last updated at 11:13 ET
Earlier this month, Chadian soldiers deployed to Cameroon's border with Nigeria
Both ground and air forces are reported to have been used in the assault.
Niger officials said Chadian ground forces moved into the town after crossing Lake Chad. It is not known if the operation was approved by Nigeria.
Hundreds of thousands have been displaced because of the Boko Haram insurgency
Boko Haram insurgents have carried out a number of cross-border
attacks on Nigeria's neighbours in recent months, attacking villages
and military bases.
The Islamist group has seized dozens of people and taken them back to north-east Nigeria, where it controls a swathe of territory.
Action plan The Nigerian authorities say they are doing all they can to tackle the militants but neighbours, including Niger and Cameroon, have said more must be done.
Chad has already sent troops to Cameroon to help it counter Boko Haram incursions and last week Nigeria said the Chadian army would be fighting on its territory.
However, it was not immediately clear if the authorities in Abuja had prior knowledge of, or any role in, the operation in Malumfatori.
People who fled the area told the BBC they had seen military planes bombing the town, which is on the shores of Lake Chad.
The Nigerian army has recently captured military vehicles used by Boko Haram
Some of those who left the town during the fighting are reported to have crossed into Niger.
Meanwhile, reports from the area say fighting has now spread to a nearby town, Abadam.
Nigerian officials have made little public comment. They said they were investigating the reports of fighting in the north-east.
Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka told the BBC that Nigeria "has to redefine its fault lines in fighting" Boko Haram.
He said tackling the group required not just military action but also "improving the capacity of the Nigerian state" in areas such as the judiciary, prison system and law enforcement agencies.
"A lot will be done about Boko Haram beyond fighting them in the north-east part of the country," he said.
African Union heads of state are due to discuss the crisis over Boko Haram at their summit beginning on Friday.
Ghanaian President John Mahama has said the leaders must produce a "specific plan of action" to "deal permanently" with Boko Haram.
Thousands have died and many more have been displaced because of the group's six-year insurgency.
Boko Haram at a glance
Soldiers without weapons
by Rashida Adjani and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, N'Djamena, Chad
Earlier this month, Chadian soldiers deployed to Cameroon's border with Nigeria
Chad's
army has driven Boko Haram militants out of Malumfatori town in
north-eastern Nigeria, a senior official from Niger has told the BBC.
The reported capture of the town, which lies near the borders of Chad and Niger, follows two days of fighting.Both ground and air forces are reported to have been used in the assault.
Niger officials said Chadian ground forces moved into the town after crossing Lake Chad. It is not known if the operation was approved by Nigeria.
Hundreds of thousands have been displaced because of the Boko Haram insurgency
The Islamist group has seized dozens of people and taken them back to north-east Nigeria, where it controls a swathe of territory.
Action plan The Nigerian authorities say they are doing all they can to tackle the militants but neighbours, including Niger and Cameroon, have said more must be done.
Chad has already sent troops to Cameroon to help it counter Boko Haram incursions and last week Nigeria said the Chadian army would be fighting on its territory.
However, it was not immediately clear if the authorities in Abuja had prior knowledge of, or any role in, the operation in Malumfatori.
People who fled the area told the BBC they had seen military planes bombing the town, which is on the shores of Lake Chad.
The Nigerian army has recently captured military vehicles used by Boko Haram
Meanwhile, reports from the area say fighting has now spread to a nearby town, Abadam.
Nigerian officials have made little public comment. They said they were investigating the reports of fighting in the north-east.
Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka told the BBC that Nigeria "has to redefine its fault lines in fighting" Boko Haram.
He said tackling the group required not just military action but also "improving the capacity of the Nigerian state" in areas such as the judiciary, prison system and law enforcement agencies.
"A lot will be done about Boko Haram beyond fighting them in the north-east part of the country," he said.
African Union heads of state are due to discuss the crisis over Boko Haram at their summit beginning on Friday.
Ghanaian President John Mahama has said the leaders must produce a "specific plan of action" to "deal permanently" with Boko Haram.
Thousands have died and many more have been displaced because of the group's six-year insurgency.
- Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
- Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state
- Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - has also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
- Has abducted hundreds, including at least 200 schoolgirls
- Controls several north-eastern towns
- Has launched attacks on Cameroon
Soldiers without weapons
Boko Haram
Analysis
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Nigeria's militant Islamist group Boko Haram is waging the most brutal insurgency in Africa. The BBC's Farouk Chothia considers why it is so powerful.
Why is Boko Haram so strong?
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'Raping our daughters'
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Soldiers without weapons
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Who are Boko Haram?
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Regional threat
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Hunted down
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Finding the truth
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New start in US for escapees
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Escape from Boko Haram
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Battle to free the girls
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'I saw my parents killed'
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City under siege
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Girl bombers
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Deadliest phase
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Failed fight back
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In 60 secs: Boko Haram
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Shadowy leader
From other news sites
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Guardian.co.uk Nigerian youths stone presidential convoy amid anger over failure to stop Boko Haram 1 hr ago
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International Business Times UK Boko Haram: Chad 'captures Nigerian town from militants' 3 hrs ago
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Yahoo! UK and Ireland Nigeria needs regional force to defeat Boko Haram 35 hrs ago
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Individual.com Think Again - Chad Rides to the Rescue in Nigeria, but Which Chad? [analysis] 54 hrs ago
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Angola Press Nigeria's Boko Haram unrest: African leaders urged to act 56 hrs ago
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