At least a dozen Niger soldiers were killed following an attack by hundreds of armed insurgents on motorbikes in the country’s southwest yesterday morning, the West African nation’s defence ministry said in a statement. Seven soldiers were killed in combat while five others died in an accident while driving to reinforce the unit that had come under attack, the statement said.
The attack took place about 190 kilometres from the capital Niamey in Kandadji, near the tri-border zone of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger earlier on Thursday, three sources including a senior military officer, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters that at least ten soldiers were killed. Neither the sources nor the defence ministry say which group was responsible.
Local affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State are active in the region and wage frequent attacks on soldiers and civilians. The defence ministry statement said around a hundred insurgents were killed and their motorbikes and arms were destroyed. It gave no further details.
Two security sources said the army responded to the attack with ground troops as well as helicopters, one of which was hit but was able to return to its base.
Niger is run by a military junta that seized power in a coup in July, partly out of discontent at the worsening security situation. Neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have each had two coups in the last three years.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Ifani reflects on tough times
iFani, real name Mzayifani Mzondeleli Boltina open up about his music hiatus which lasted for six years. During a recent sit-down on a podcast, the musician bared his heart over his come back.
Once upon a time, Ifani, along with AKA and Cassper, was one of the biggest hip-hop artists in the country, dropping chart-topping hits and performing in different cities across Mzansi. Read more
