The Nigerien army has reported the loss of 10 soldiers in a terrorist attack on its Petelkoli detachment near the border with Burkina Faso.
The attack occurred on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, as part of Operation Niyya on the right bank of the river, according to a statement broadcast on public television Wednesday evening.
The army’s consolidated report indicates that at least 26 terrorists were neutralized during the clash. Seven soldiers sustained injuries in the attack.
The military firmly denied reports circulating on social media and some media outlets claiming over 80 soldiers and around 40 civilians were killed.
Petelkoli, located in the Téra department in western Niger, has been the target of escalating violence. Just days earlier, on December 5, armed men attacked a public transport vehicle in the area, killing at least 21 civilians.
Western Niger has been a hotspot for armed attacks since 2017, with violence frequently attributed to terrorist groups operating in the tri-border region between Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.