Several Nigerien soldiers lost their lives in a recent jihadist attack targeting army forces in the Falmey district of the Dosso region, located in southwestern Niger. According to a local source, an army river brigade operating near the Niger River, close to the Benin border, was assaulted on Monday, resulting in numerous casualties.
The Wamaps network, a West African coalition of security journalists, reported that up to 44 soldiers were killed in the attack carried out by the Katiba Hanifa group, which has known ties to Al Qaeda. This marks one of the deadliest strikes against Niger's military in recent months.
Just a day prior, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for an assault near Eknewan, close to Niger's western border with Mali, where approximately 40 soldiers reportedly died. AFP has been unable to independently verify these casualty figures.
The affected brigade has faced repeated attacks in this border region. In March, a clash at Falmey resulted in one soldier's death. In response to rising threats from jihadist factions, Nigerien authorities recently implemented restrictions, including banning motorcycle traffic on roads in vulnerable border areas adjacent to Nigeria and Benin.
The escalating jihadist violence was among the reasons cited by Niger’s military when it executed a coup in 2023, emphasizing the country's ongoing security challenges.
