Three policemen have been killed in an attack on Niger security forces near the border with Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Mali.

Niger’s Ministry of Defence made the statement on public television Thursday. Colonel Ledru Moustapha said in the statement the attack was launched by assailants who arrived on four motorcycles and in a Toyota pickup truck.

In an earlier attack, three members of Niger’s defense forces were wounded and five suicide bombers were killed Wednesday in an ambush in the Diffa region authorities have blamed on Boko Haram.

The attacks come just before Niger voters go to the polls Sunday for a presidential runoff vote.

A spokesman for the opposition coalition, Amadou Bjibo, is asking supporters to boycott the vote. The opposition says the February 21 election was marred by vote-rigging. (VOA)