Niger: 71 soldiers killed in attack by hundreds of terrorist operatives

The military in a West African country said that the deadliest attack ever against its forces used artillery fire and car bombs. Violence in the region, where ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates operate, rages in the past year despite the presence of foreign forces

71 Nigerian soldiers were killed yesterday (Wednesday) in a base attack in a remote area near the Mali border - an army spokesman said after the deadliest attack in the Nigerian military's history. Jihad organizations, linked to Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda have intensified their deadly attacks across the West African Sahel region over the past year, despite thousands of regional and foreign forces fighting it.

Violence is particularly striking in Mali and Burkina Faso, many of which have escaped the hands of the authorities, but it has also trickled down to Niger, who shares a long line and breaks with both. Army spokesman Colonel Bobacher Hassan said on television that about 100 militants attacked the base in West Indies town for three hours. There were two May and July attacks in the area in which 50 Nigerian soldiers were killed by ISIS's West African Fighters.

He said the gunmen fired artillery fire and used car bombs. A Nigerian army spokesman added that 12 more soldiers were injured, and several others were missing. He said "a large number" of gunmen were killed. Two security officials, who spoke anonymously, said 30 soldiers were still missing.

State President Muhammad Isufu's office said he returned to the country yesterday after he interrupted a visit to Egypt.

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Nigerian Army Soldiers in Exercise with US Army, Last April (Photo: Reuters)

Nigerian Army Soldiers in Exercise with US Army, April 2018 (Photo: Reuters)