The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday condemned the killing of at least 17 Nigerien soldiers in a fresh ambush near the border with Mali.

In a statement on Wednesday, ECOWAS maintained that the country has become fragile after the junta ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The West African bloc leveraged on the sad development to warn the coup plotters on the need to comply with its directive by restoring Constitutional order.

The statement reads, “ECOWAS has learnt with sadness various attacks by armed groups in the Republic of Niger that have led to the death of several Nigerien soldiers.

“ECOWAS condemns these attacks and conveys its deepest condolences to the people of Niger and the families of the soldiers who have lost their lives.

“ECOWAS calls on the CNSP-military leadership in Niger to restore constitutional order in order to focus on the security of the country that has become increasingly fragile since the attempted coup d’etat against the democratically elected President, H.E. Mohamed Bazoum.”

Notwithstanding the calls by ECOWAS and Western countries with huge investments in Niger, the junta has remained defiant.