“A Niger army patrol was attacked by terrorist elements at 1500 GMT north of Tilwa. We have 15 dead and 19 wounded in our ranks,” the Vanguard in neighbouring Nigeria quoted army spokesman Colonel Toure Seydou Albdoula Aziz as saying.
The spokesman did not say how many people were involved in the attack, nor did he identify the attackers.
Although the affiliation of the attackers has not yet been revealed, it has been speculated that Boko Haram might be responsible, as they have committed such attacks in the country in the past.
“Clean-up operations have been launched in the sector to neutralise the fleeing terrorists,” he added.