Suspected Islamist militants from Nigeria's Boko Haram group have killed at least four people in suicide attacks across the border in Niger.

The dead included three civilians and a soldier and four attackers also died during the attacks in Niger's southeastern region of Diffa.

Niger, Cameroon and Chad have all suffered a spillover of violence from Boko Haram's northern Nigerian strongholds.

Niger has arrested at least 1,100 suspected Boko Haram militants this year and has placed its Diffa region under a state of emergency.

Diffa, which borders Nigeria, has suffered at least 57 attacks since February.

At least 150,000 refugees seeking protection from Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria live in Niger's Diffa region.