At least 12 soldiers were killed in Niger on Thursday, seven in an attack by suspected jihadists and five in a road accident while responding to the assault.

The attack occurred in the town of Kandadji in the southwest Tillaberi region, located in the so-called “three borders” zone where Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali meet. The area is a hideout for jihadists, particularly those affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

Niger’s defence minister, Salifou Mody, said in a statement that a military unit had been “violently attacked by several hundred terrorists” in Kandadji on Thursday, adding that seven soldiers were killed.

“During an intervention” launched in response to the attack, “a tragic traffic accident led to the loss of five of our brave soldiers”, he continued.

Another seven people were injured and evacuated to a hospital, he said.

“A search and sweep operation is now under way in order to track down the enemy,” the minister said.

The deaths come as former colonial power France prepares to withdraw an anti-terrorism force stationed in the country at the request of its new military leaders, who seized power in a coup two months ago.