NIAMEY: At least 16 Nigerien soldiers were killed and 23 others injured in a terrorist attack targeting a military unit in western Niger, the country’s Ministry of Defence said.
According to the ministry, the attack occurred on Saturday in the Téra area of the Tillabéri region, near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, a region that has witnessed repeated attacks by armed militant groups operating across the Sahel.
In a statement cited by Xinhua News Agency, Niger’s military said security forces launched an immediate counteroffensive with air support, forcing the attackers to retreat after intense fighting.
The ministry added that 15 militants were killed during the operation. Security forces also seized five motorcycles used by the attackers and destroyed four others.
Military authorities said search, clearance, and security operations are continuing across the area to locate remaining militants and prevent further attacks.
The Tillabéri region has remained one of the most volatile parts of Niger due to the activities of extremist groups linked to regional insurgencies. The area, bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, has experienced frequent attacks on military personnel and civilians despite ongoing counterterrorism operations.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the latest assault.
