The corpses of more than 80 migrants have been found in northern Niger after their vehicle broke down attempting to cross the Sahara Desert, military sources said on Thursday.
The migrants had set off in two trucks from Niger’s northernmost mining town Arlit across the desert towards Tamanrasset in Algeria in mid-October but dispersed to find water after their vehicle broke down. Five of those walked back to Arlit to inform authorities.
We have discovered more than 80 bodies scattered in various locations less than 20 km from the border with Algeria, most of them were women and children who died of thirst, a senior military officer said.
There was no immediate information on their nationalities. However, 20 people from the group survived the ordeal.