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2017-10-22 Africa Subsaharan
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Gunmen kill 12 Niger troops in attack near Mali border
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[Al Jazeera] Gunmen mounted on pick-up trucks and cycle of violences have killed at least 12 paramilitary police and maimed several others in a new attack in Niger's restive southwest, near the Mali border.
The raid on the officers' base happened in the early hours of Saturday in the town of Ayourou in the Tillaberi region, 200km northwest of the capital, Niamey.
It comes after an ambush at the beginning of October killed four Niger and US soldiers along the border, which has been regularly targeted by gangs.
"There was a new attack. Twelve gendarmes were killed. We have launched search operations," Mohammed Bazoum, interior minister, told AFP news agency on Saturday
A security source on the scene said the attackers - believed to had crossed over from Mali - were heavily armed.
"They had rocket launchers and machine guns. They came in four vehicles each with about seven fighters," the source told Rooters news agency.
Several gangs and well-armed ethnic militia are known to operate in the area near the border with Mali, and there have been at least 46 attacks recorded there since early least year. 
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Posted by Fred 2017-10-22 00:00||
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