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Actualité

Niger: deadly boko haram attack claims soldiers’ lives near n’guigmi

Une dizaine de soldats tués par Boko Haram

Nigerien soldiers killed in jihadist assault

The attack on the military position

Boko Haram militants launched an assault on a Defense and Security Forces outpost in the vicinity of N’Guigmi, a garrison town nestled within the Diffa region. This strategic location, bordering Lake Chad, serves as a critical junction connecting Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad. The attack unfolded on Friday morning, resulting in significant casualties among the military personnel.

Eyewitness accounts and casualty reports

An N’Guigmi resident, speaking anonymously for security reasons, confirmed that “approximately ten soldiers were killed in the attack carried out by Boko Haram on Friday morning near N’Guigmi.” The same individual also stated that “there were fatalities among the assailants” and that “the army is conducting sweeping operations.” However, other sources within the city have indicated a potentially higher death toll, suggesting that “ten military personnel and four National Guard members were killed.” The victims “lost their lives following an attack by elements of the Boko Haram sect on the outskirts of N’Guigmi.” General Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma, the Governor of the Diffa region, attended the burial of the fallen soldiers just hours after the incident.

Security context in the Sahel

Since 2009, N’Guigmi has evolved into a jihadist stronghold, harboring both Boko Haram fighters and elements of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). Lake Chad, a vast expanse of water and marshlands, provides a sanctuary for these armed groups, enabling them to launch cross-border incursions into riparian nations. This jihadist insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions across northeastern Nigeria, with the violence steadily spreading into Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

Regional response and ongoing security challenges

In response to this persistent threat, the Lake Chad Basin nations have reactivated their Joint Multinational Force, originally established in 1994. Furthermore, Chad conducted airstrikes and ground operations against Boko Haram positions on remote islands within the lake in mid-May, with support from Nigeria and Niger. Despite these efforts, Niger also grapples with violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in its western regions. The military regime, in power since July 2023, continues to face significant challenges in containing these relentless attacks.