Twenty-three troopers have been killed in a “terrorist” ambush in western Niger throughout an offensive close to the border with Burkina Faso and Mali, the defence ministry stated.
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The troopers have been engaged in a safety sweep in Tillaberi, within the three borders space, on Tuesday and Wednesday and have been killed throughout a “advanced ambush”, it stated late Thursday, including that “about 30 terrorists had been neutralised”.
The military raids have been “designed to reassure native individuals” who have been being targeted by armed groups engaged in “murders, extortion and cattle rustling”, the ministry stated.
It stated greater than 100 “terrorists” had attacked a military unit between Teguey and Bankilare utilizing “home-made bombs and suicide automobiles”.
Along with the 23 troopers who died, an additional 17 have been wounded.
(AFP)