Terrorist have killed about 73 soldiers in an attack on a military base in western Niger Republic.
The Army said twelve soldiers were also injured in the attack, describing the incident as the deadliest for several years in Inates.
Niger’s Republic Defence Minister, Issoufou Katambe said a large number of terrorists had been neutralised.
No group has claimed responsibility of the killings yet, but fighters linked to the Islamic State group and Nigeria-based Boko Haram is active in the area.
Katambe explained that there was a fierce battle in Inates, near the border with Mali, adding several terrorists attacked the base.
The attack came just days ahead of a summit in France between President Emmanuel Macron and leaders of five West African leaders to discuss security in the vast region.
Militant groups are active across the region and Niger Republic is a member of the G-5 Sahel group, along with Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Chad, which aims to tackle the insurgency.
