Niger Attack: Soldiers Killed By Jihadist
Hundreds of Islamic militant riding motorbikes have attacked Kandadji, a town in South Western Niger and killed 12 soldiers according to the defense ministry.
The defense minister, Salifoe Modu stated that a search and sweep operation is now underway in order to track down the enemy.
According to reports, soldiers have been called back to Niamey, the country's capital to safeguard the military leaders.
In August 2023, about seventeen (17 ) Niger soldiers were killed and twenty (20) injured in an attack near the border with Mali and in retaliation, over 100 insurgents were murdered.
For the past ten years, the region where central Mali, Northern Burkina Faso, and Western Niger intersect has emerged as the focal point of conflict involving armed organizations associated with al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) in the Sahel area.
The turmoil in the area has resulted in the deaths of numerous military personnel, law enforcement officials, and innocent people, causing millions to be displaced from their residence.
The military had earlier seized power in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which was driven by anger over the attacks by the insurgents. Most recently, Niger experienced a coup on July 26,2023, resulting in the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum. Ever since the military took control in July, there has been an increase in the number of attacks on the army by jihadists. The military claimed that it carried out the coup in order to enhance its capability to combat the militants, some of whom have connections to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Earlier in September ,Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali had reached an agreement to form a defense alliance in order to provide mutual assistance in the face of external attacks.
