Three soldiers, 14 attackers dead in Niger camp assault
Team Udayavani, Dec 11, 2019, 9:16 AM IST
Niamey: Three soldiers and 14 attackers died in an assault earlier this week on an army camp in western Niger near the border with Mali, the defense minister said.
Heavily armed “terrorists” in a dozen 4×4 vehicles led the attack early Monday morning on the military post in the West African country’s Tahoua region, he said. “After two hours of intense fighting, the vigorous response of our defense and security forces enabled us to repel the attack and push back the assailants,” the minister said Tuesday in a statement read on state TV.
“A vehicle packed with explosives was seized” by the army along with weapons and ammunition, he said.
Jihadist militants operate on Niger’s northern borders with Mali and Libya, while its southeastern border with Nigeria is plagued by the Boko Haram group.
The statement added that the attackers had fled towards Mali after the battle at the Agando camp, which also left four soldiers and several attackers wounded.
It came as armed men launched an attack Tuesday evening on another army post, also in Niger’s west, according to a security source who could not give an immediate death toll.
Tuesday’s attack took place in the Inates area, the source said, adding that the situation was “under control” and reinforcements had been sent.
“The attackers came in their dozens, in small groups on motorcycles,” and surrounded the camp, she said.
In July, a faction of Boko Haram backed by the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for an attack on an army camp in Inates that killed 18 soldiers. Niger is part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, and Chad.
Thousands of civilians and soldiers have died in violence across the vast region with porous borders, known as the Sahel, which began when armed Islamists revolted in northern Mali in 2012.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
‘America of your dreams calling’: Biden to Democratic supporters
Indian consulate in Canada cancels consular camps due over security issues
Hindu temple in Brampton suspends priest for spreading ‘violent rhetoric’
President Xi congratulates Trump; says China, US should find ‘right way’ to manage differences
Harris, Trump agree on importance of unifying country as they speak over phone
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
BCCI vs PCB spar on CT venue as Naqvi denies receiving any official note from Indian board
Use Carnatic music to promote Kannada language: Nirmala Sitharaman
Udupi: Car collides with bike; Rider injured
UP women’s body proposes men shouldn’t tailor women’s clothes or cut their hair
NSE, BSE to be closed on Nov 20 for Maharashtra assembly polls
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.