Burkina Faso, Niger neutralize 100 terrorists in joint operation

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - Armed forces from Burkina Faso and Niger neutralized around 100 terrorists in a joint operation carried out between Nov. 25 and Thursday, local security authorities said in a statement.

"During the operation, two terrorist bases were dismantled in the area of Yeritagui in eastern Burkina Faso and Kokoloukou in Niger," said the statement seen by Anadolu Agency.

The joint anti-terrorist mission between Burkina Faso and Niger, two Sahel countries plagued by terrorism, has also apprehended around 20 suspicious individuals, recovered weapons, and discovered and destroyed explosive devices, according to the Nigerien and Burkinabe armed forces.

Four Burkinabe soldiers were killed and 13 others from both countries were wounded when an explosive device went off as a unit was passing by on an offensive reconnaissance mission in eastern Burkina Faso, according to the sources.

The provisional death toll comes after a meeting Thursday between Burkina Faso’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Aime Barthelemy Simpore and his Nigerien counterpart Alkassoum Indattou in Tillaberi, Niger.

The objective was to take stock of the joint operation, called Taanli 2. It is the second phase of the operation, which was first conducted in June this year.

The security authorities announced a third phase "to consolidate the results obtained."