At least 46 members of the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces (SDF) were killed in a devastating attack on Saturday by militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), authorities have confirmed. The assault targeted a military base in Iknewane, located in the Tilia department near Niger’s border with Mali, within the troubled Tahoua region.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication with a focus on the Lake Chad region, described the attack as a large-scale, coordinated operation that overwhelmed the military outpost. The publication revealed that the militants, heavily armed and in significant numbers, launched a surprise attack, which caught the SDF off guard. The assault resulted in the destruction of nine out of 16 military vehicles stationed at the base, while the militants looted weapons and ammunition before retreating.
In the wake of the attack, reports indicate that around a dozen soldiers were taken hostage, and several others remain missing. The destruction of military assets, coupled with the significant loss of life, marks a grim escalation in the region’s ongoing conflict.
In response, a military convoy of approximately 20 vehicles from the Niger Armed Forces (FAN), along with reinforcements from the National Guard (GNN), has been deployed from Tahoua to conduct operations aimed at locating and neutralizing the attackers. Despite these efforts, the security situation remains precarious, with the militants continuing to target military and civilian positions in the area.
This is not the first time the Iknewane base has been targeted. On September 18, 2024, a similar attack by EIGS militants resulted in the deaths of at least 24 Nigerien soldiers, underlining the persistent threats posed by militant groups in the region. The recurring nature of these attacks highlights the rising violence in the Tahoua region, particularly along the porous border with Mali, where militant groups have gained increasing footholds.
The Nigerien government faces mounting security challenges as armed groups continue to launch frequent and violent assaults on both military and civilian targets. This attack serves as yet another reminder of the fragile security landscape in the region, where the forces of instability have grown increasingly difficult to contain.
The loss of life among Nigerien troops underscores the risks faced by security forces in this volatile corner of West Africa, and raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
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