Niger army says 100 jihadists killed in operation

Niger’s army says it has killed 100 jihadists in an operation in a south-western region near the Burkina Faso border.

The operation in the Torodi area was in response to an attack that killed 19 security officers on a resupply mission on 31 July.

Another team that later came to rescue was hit by an explosive device.The Nigerien army said in a statement that it had aimed to “search for and neutralise” those responsible for the ambush and bomb attack.

Officers had also destroyed their ammunition, vehicles and tricycles, it said. Western Niger, especially the “three border zone”, has been plagued by armed attacks attributed to jihadist groups based in northern Mali since 2017.