Niger's military officials confirmed the attack. The assailants crossed over the border from Mali and drove up to the village of Ayorou, about 40 km (25 miles) inside, before springing their attack, the security sources said. They came in four vehicles each with about seven fighters," said a security source on the scene. Reinforcements later arrived and stopped them as they tried to cross back over the border, another security source on the scene said, triggering a gun battle. He has pledged allegiance to Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, although the extent of their ties are not known.

Source: bd News24 October 21, 2017 20:03 UTC