A devastating assault in the town of Banibangou, located in western Niger near the Malian border, has resulted in the deaths of 34 Nigerien soldiers.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday, was carried out by hundreds of armed men on vehicles and motorbikes.
According to the defence ministry, the soldiers clashed with the attackers, killing dozens of them.
However, the ministry reported that 14 soldiers were wounded in the fierce battle.
Following the attack, reinforcements were dispatched to the town, and search operations were launched by land and air to track down the perpetrators.
The region has been plagued by jihadist violence, with groups aligned to Al Qaeda and Islamic State operating in the area.
Niger’s military junta has been struggling to contain the threat, despite expelling French and US forces in recent years.
The country continues to battle insurgency on multiple fronts.
