The defense ministry announced that twenty-three soldiers lost their lives in a “terrorist” ambush in western Niger during a security operation near the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali.
The soldiers were conducting a security sweep in Tillaberi, located in the three-border region, on Tuesday and Wednesday when they were ambushed in a “complex attack,” as stated by the ministry on Thursday.
It further reported that “approximately 30 terrorists had been neutralized” during the operation.
The army raids were “designed to reassure local people” who were being targeted by armed groups engaged in “murders, extortion and cattle rustling”, the ministry said.
It said more than 100 “terrorists” had attacked an army unit between Teguey and Bankilare using “home-made bombs and suicide vehicles”.
In addition to the 23 soldiers who died, a further 17 were wounded.
