The country has been fighting terrorism for several years. In the latest bout, Nigerien soldiers were engaged in a security sweep in Tillaberi, in the three borders area, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the defense ministry said late Thursday.
They were killed during a "complex ambush," it said, adding that "about 30 terrorists had been neutralized".
The army raids were "designed to reassure local people" who were being targeted by armed groups engaged in "murders, extortion and cattle rustling", the ministry said, adding that more than 100 terrorists had attacked the army unit between Teguey and Bankilare using "home-made bombs and suicide vehicles."
Tillaberi borders Burkina Faso and Mali that have also been plagued by jihadist attacks. Groups linked to al-Qaeda* and Daesh* have operated in Tillaberi since 2017.
In January, 22 civilians were killed in an attack on the Tillaberi village of Motogatta, about 100 kilometers north of the capital Niamey.
In a recent statement, Sergey Vershinin, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, emphasized the need of providing international assistance to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. He highlighted that these countries are at the forefront of combating trans-African terrorism and safeguarding their own sovereignty.
In addition, he emphasized the significance of a "neutral and constructive" approach to the development of the Sahel region, which should align with the interests of the nations in that area.
* Terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other states.