At least 16 soldiers have died in Niger following a militant attack in the western Tahoua Region.
The attack was carried out where more than 200 civilians had been killed in an unclaimed attack in March.
The soldiers were ambushed by armed individuals near Agando area in the region.
Six more soldiers were injured in the attack and one is still missing.
The militants also took away three vehicles and completely destroyed another.
The world’s poorest nation, according to the UN’s development rankings for 189 countries, Niger is also struggling with violence that has spilled over from Mali and Nigeria.
The attacks in western Niger are often attributed to armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS).
Such attacks against civilians have multiplied this year, with more than 300 people killed in villages and encampments in western Niger.