Niger – An armed group killed 20 troops and one civilian in jihadist-plagued western Niger on Tuesday, the defence ministry said, announcing three days of national mourning.
“A coalition of terrorist armed groups” attacked security forces near the village of Tassia, leaving “21 martyrs including one civilian” and nine injured, the ministry announced in a statement on national television.
What can Western countries tell us about this attack? Especially the former colonial masters of Niger? Any idea of what happened?#Niger: is in mourning after 20 of its soldiers were killed in an ambush on Tuesday. The military government says “A coalition of terrorist armed… pic.twitter.com/ikEVkptKj0
— Amba News Line (@amba_newsline) June 27, 2024
It said “several dozen” of the assailants were killed and that aerial and ground reinforcements were being deployed to track down the rest of the attackers.
Three days of national mourning will begin from Wednesday with flags lowered to half-mast, the ministry said, speaking of the security forces’ “unshakeable determination” to “continue this fight for sovereignty”.
Tassia lies in the Tillaberi region bordering Mali and Burkina Faso where rebels linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have waged a bloody insurgency for almost a decade.
🔴NIGER 🇳🇪|#Counter_attack : the army of #Niger is engaged for several days in an offensive against terrorists in #Tillabéri (West). On June, 20, nine terrorists were killed and 31 captured during a confrontation with elements of the #JNIM in the locality of #Nabolé. And on…1/2 pic.twitter.com/UhYfaZ7lVv
— Nanana365 (@nanana365media) June 25, 2024
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Source: AFP
Picture: Pixabay
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