At least 12 soldiers and dozens of militants were killed in a battle in western Niger on Sunday in the "three borders" zone, according to the Nigerien Defense Ministry.

In a statement, the Ministry added that another eight soldiers were wounded during the battle, which occurred five km from the city of Fantio in the Tera District of the Tillaberio Region.

Several motorbikes used by the militants had been damaged, and communications equipment had been recovered, according to the statement.

Furthermore, the Ministry stressed that the soldiers had "defended themselves ferociously," killing dozens of the militants before being outnumbered.

The militants had been forced to retreat by reinforcements from nearby positions and air support.

It is worth mentioning that a clash erupted last week between a French military convoy and protesters in western Niger, resulting in three deaths and 18 injuries. The protesters prevented the French military convoy from passing into Niger from Burkina Faso, according to Niger's government.