Boko Haram Kills 10 Niger Soldiers

At least 10 Nigerien soldiers have been killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants in southeastern Niger, according to local sources, with the assault later confirmed by state media.

The attack took place on Friday near N’Guigmi, a military garrison town in the Diffa region, an area located within the Lake Chad Basin and shared by Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad. The region has remained a stronghold for Boko Haram fighters, who maintain several camps across the area.

A resident of N’Guigmi, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said about 10 soldiers were killed during the attack.

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“There were around 10 soldiers killed in this attack,” the resident said, adding that security forces had begun searching the area following the assault.

The resident also said there were casualties among the attackers, although no specific figure was provided.

Other residents, in posts shared on social media, reported that 10 soldiers and four national guard personnel were killed in the attack.

Boko Haram terrorists kill Niger Soldiers. Credit: The Guardian

Niger’s state-run ANP news agency confirmed the incident but did not provide a death toll. It reported that security personnel had died “following an attack by members of the Boko Haram cult on the outskirts of N’Guigmi town.”

The agency added that Diffa Governor General Mahamadou Ibrahim visited N’Guigmi to oversee the burial of security personnel killed in the attack.

Sixteen Soldiers Killed in Militant Attack in Niger

The assault comes as Niger and its neighbours continue to battle Boko Haram’s long-running insurgency, which began in 2009 in northeastern Nigeria. The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, particularly in Nigeria’s northeast.

The violence has also spread across borders into Niger, Chad and Cameroon, leading to the creation of a regional military coalition to combat jihadist groups operating around the Lake Chad Basin.

However, the regional security effort has faced challenges in recent years, including Niger’s withdrawal from the coalition following the country’s military takeover, affecting cooperation among countries fighting the insurgency.

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Tope Oke

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