Seven children killed in Togo bomb explosion

An explosion caused by an improvised explosive is said to have killed seven children in Togo.

Witnesses reported being awakened by a powerful explosion late on Saturday in the northern Savanes region of the nation.

The army is cited as stating in a statement on Sunday that "an investigation is ongoing to understand the causes of this explosion and identify the offenders."

Several targets have been assaulted by jihadist militants affiliated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda in several Sahel-regional nations.

Following the nation's first lethal militant strike in May, in which eight soldiers were murdered close to the Burkina Faso border, the Togolese army has been on high alert.

Togo last month declared a state of emergency in its northern region following the attack.