At least 10 soldiers have been confirmed dead and seven others wounded following a deadly ambush in Niger’s southern Dosso region earlier this week.
The attack, which occurred on Monday, has been blamed on terrorist groups, according to an official statement broadcast on state radio. However, a security source speaking to Reuters suggested the actual death toll may be even higher.
The government reported that several attackers were neutralized and others captured during the assault. Niger, alongside neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, continues to struggle with a persistent insurgency fueled by jihadist factions affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Authorities also revealed that 18 soldiers are still unaccounted for, and three military vehicles were taken during the attack. In response, the government issued a motorcycle ban in the affected communities, aiming to disrupt militant movements, as detailed in a directive obtained by Reuters.
This latest assault comes on the heels of a similar incident last month that saw 12 soldiers killed and five Indian nationals kidnapped near Niger’s volatile tri-border region. In March, an attack linked to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) left at least 44 civilians dead at a mosque in the same general area.
Colonel Major Bana Alassane, governor of the Dosso region, visited the site a day after the attack to express condolences and support to the families of the fallen soldiers, according to the government statement.
