A roadside bomb attack has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 5 Malian soldiers in the volatile centre of the country.

The killing was made public by Yaya Sangare, a government spokesperson, on Monday.

Punch reveals that Malian forces were travelling in the region of Alatona in the centre of Mali on Monday morning when their convoy hit the homemade bomb, destroying four vehicles.

“Reinforcements are already in place for the operation to neutralise the enemies,” the spokesperson said on Twitter.