Official: Vehicle hits mine in Niger, killing 7
May 22, 2012, 3:05 PM
NIAMEY, Niger (AP) – Regional authorities say a vehicle carrying West African migrants toward Libya struck an anti-tank mine in Niger, killing seven people.
Gov. Garba Makibou of Agadez in northern Niger says five people were injured in the accident that happened over the weekend when the vehicle veered off the road to avoid a routine check about 17 kilometers (10 miles) from Dao Timi, the last Niger military post before the Libyan border. He says the injured were evacuated to Agadez for treatment.
Makibou also announced that a weapons cache containing 53 missiles was discovered by people in the same region. He didn’t give further details.
Since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi arms have been circulating in Niger near its northern border with Libya.
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