According to Reuters, on Sunday, Islamist fighters attacked in the Northeast, killing three soldiers from Nigeria and Niger and injuring at least 12 others.
The soldiers were a part of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which also included troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin. The MNJTF seeks to put an end to the Islamist insurgency that has caused millions of people to be displaced and killed thousands of people.
Two MNJTF soldiers were killed when their vehicle triggered an improvised explosive device as they were pursuing insurgents in the Arege region of Borno State, the insurgency’s epicenter, according to a military source in Nigeria. In addition to the commanding officer, 10 soldiers also suffered injuries, as did two civilian support personnel.
A Nigerien soldier was killed in a separate attack in Arege when the vehicle he was riding in exploded with another explosive device. According to a source in the Nigerien army, it is unknown how many soldiers were hurt in this attack.
The MNJTF confirmed the attacks in a situation report, but at the time of reporting, Lieutenant Colonel Kamarudeen Adegoke, the MNJTF spokesman, was unavailable for comment.
