Nigeria, Feb. 1 -- At least 46 soldiers were killed in a militant attack on a Nigerien military base near the Mali border in the Tahoua region.

The attack happened on Saturday in Iknewane, Tilia Department, and was carried out by militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS).

The large-scale assault caught the soldiers by surprise, with heavily armed attackers overwhelming the base.

Nine out of 16 military vehicles were destroyed or seized, and weapons and ammunition were looted.

Reports also indicate that around a dozen soldiers were taken hostage, and several others are still missing. Some soldiers managed to escape on foot and were later rescued.

In response, the Niger Armed Forces and the National Guard have deplo...