NIAMEY, Niger — Witnesses say a suicide bomber detonated explosives near a pepper market in a border town in the West African nation of Niger just hours after the army successfully repulsed an attack by the Nigeria-based extremist group Boko Haram.

Kader Lawan, a resident of the town of Diffa, said the bomb attack occurred mid-morning Sunday. No casualty figures were immediately available.

Boko Haram has used suicide bombers driving explosive-laden cars and wearing explosive vests in dozens of deadly attacks on crowded markets and bustling bus stations that have killed hundreds of people. This would be the first such attack outside of Nigeria.

The fight against Boko Haram has taken on an increasingly regional dimension in recent months, and Niger has been attacked multiple times in recent days.

Associated press