Seven soldiers have died in southwest Niger following a deadly attack by suspected militias, while five others were killed in a traffic accident during a counter-attack on Thursday, the junta says.
The country’s Defence Minister Salifou Mody in a statement said there was a violent assault by “several hundred terrorists” on one of the military units, leading to the killing of the seven military men and five others who died in a “tragic traffic accident” while launching a response to the attack.
At least seven people sustained injuries, and were quickly moved to a hospital for medical care, the Minister said, adding that efforts were being made to track down the perpetrators.
“A search and sweep operation is now underway in order to track down the enemy,” he said.
