NIAMEY, SANA- Gunmen killed five soldiers and wounded others during a weekend ambush of a military convoy performing escort duties in northern Niger.
No one has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack, which occurred in the Agadez region on the road to Arlit town, the chief of staff for Niger’s army, Abdou Sidikou Issa, said in a statement cited by the AFP.
Three of the wounded soldiers were evacuated to Niger’s capital, Niamey, and military reinforcements have been sent to the area, Issa said.
He added that the convoy included four Toyotas mounted with machine guns, was leaving a gold mining site when it was hit.
Armed groups and people who come to steal gold frequent the area, according to local residents.
Manar Salameh/ Ruaa al-Jazaeri