‘Ferocious’ Niger battle leaves dozens of soldiers and militants dead

Military calls in air and ground support to force attackers to retreat after being overwhelmed by their numbers, government says

At least 12 soldiers and dozens of terrorists" have been killed in a battle in western Niger, the defence ministry says, in the conflict-wracked three borders" zone.

Another eight soldiers were wounded in the clash with hundreds of armed terrorists" 5km (three miles) from Fantio, the ministry statement on Sunday said.