Niamey/Niger/UNI: 17 soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in West Niger's Tillaberi region on Tuesday, the Ministry of National Defense of Niger's junta said Wednesday.
"Yesterday around 1:30 p.m. (1230 GMT), a detachment of the Nigerian Armed Forces, in motion between Boni and Torodi, encountered a terrorist ambush near the locality of Koutougou (52 km southwest of Torodi)," the ministry stated.
It added that the prompt soldier response and air-ground engagement at the encounter scene facilitated enemy handling.
The wounded evacuated to Niamey, the ministry said.
The area known as the "three borders" (of Niger-Mali-Burkina Faso), where Torodi is located, has become a place in recent years where terrorist groups carry out deadly attacks on the borders, targeting both military and civilian populations.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.