Suspected militants launched a double attack near Niger’s western border with Burkina Faso on Friday, killing 10 soldiers.
Authorities confirmed 41 attackers were also neutralized in the coordinated assaults.
The West African nation, currently under military rule, has been grappling with violence from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State for the past decade.
These extremist groups have destabilized the region.
Defense Minister General Salifou Modi stated that “several hundred mercenaries” carried out the simultaneous attacks.
The incidents occurred in the Bouloundjounga and Samira areas of the Gotheye department.
National television reported the attacks resulted in 15 soldiers wounded in addition to the fatalities.
Niger soldiers die in coordinated jihadist border raids
Gotheye department, bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, is a known hotbed for militant activity.
The village of Samira is home to Niger’s only industrial gold mine.
In May, eight workers from the mining company were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb, highlighting the persistent threat in the area.