An attack attributed to suspected jihadist fighters has left 10 soldiers dead in Niger, according to reports from the state radio on Tuesday. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday near a village located in the southwestern part of the country, which has been grappling with persistent violence linked to extremist groups.
The assault, taking place around 5:00 pm local time (1600 GMT), took place near Dogon Kiria in the Dogondoutchi department of the Dosso region, situated close to the borders of Nigeria and Benin. It is the latest in a series of attacks believed to be carried out by groups with ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The Voice of the Sahel, a local news outlet, confirmed the deaths of 10 soldiers, stating that the victims were killed during what they described as a “cowardly and barbaric attack.” Additionally, the attack left seven soldiers wounded, one of whom is reported to be in critical condition.
The military’s swift response included neutralizing several of the attackers and capturing others, according to the report. Local authorities, including Dosso’s governor Colonel Bana Alhassane, traveled to the affected area on Monday to express condolences to the victims’ families. “Several terrorists were neutralised and accomplices arrested,” the report noted.
This tragic attack follows a pattern of violence that has plagued Niger since a coup by the military in July 2023. According to NGO Acled, which monitors global conflicts, at least 2,400 people have lost their lives due to the ongoing violence in the region. While the area was not initially considered a jihadist hotspot, it has increasingly become a target for attacks attributed to extremist groups.
