At least 12 members of the Nigerian armed forces and “dozens of terrorists” were killed Saturday in heavy fighting in the western part of the country, in the so-called “tri-national border” zone, the Ministry of Defense in Niamey announced on Sunday.
The “fights” took place “five kilometers” from the village of Fantio between members of the Nigerian army and “hundreds of armed terrorists”, with the official report talking about 12 military “fallen in the field of honor” and “eight wounded”. while, “on the side of the enemy”, several “dozens of terrorists were neutralized” (s.s .: killed), according to a press release of the ministry.
“Several motorcycles” of the attackers were “destroyed”, while “media” were confiscated. Initially, the military “defended themselves vigorously and inflicted dozens of casualties on the enemy ranks”, before being “overwhelmed by their numbers”, faced with a superior force, the press release explains.
But “reinforcements” sent from the cities of “Wanzarbe and Terra”, as well as “air support” helped “to make the enemy flee, leaving dozens dead and material” on the battlefield, according to the same source.
Fantio is a rural community in the Tera prefecture in Tilabari district, where jihadist organizations often swear allegiance to either Al Qaeda or Islamic State (IS).
In May, five villagers were killed in Fantio by a “horde of terrorists who arrived on motorcycles” while the country was celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the end of the month of Ramadan. Two other people were seriously injured in the attack and a church was set on fire.
In late June, two civilians, a school principal and a retired police inspector, were killed and cattle stolen in the same community.
In addition to jihadist activities in the Sahel, including the Islamic State in the Sahara (ISS) in the west, Niger is also facing Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa (ISIL) operations in the southeast. border with Nigeria.
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