Ten soldiers lost their lives, and seven others sustained injuries in a terrorist assault near Niger’s border with Burkina Faso, the military confirmed on Wednesday.
The attack occurred on Tuesday in the village of Petel Kole, where a military position was targeted by hundreds of militants riding motorcycles. In a swift response, the army reported “neutralizing” 26 assailants during the confrontation.
Separately, social media claims of another attack in Chatoumane were dismissed by Niger’s junta as “unfounded.” Military officials accused detractors of spreading misinformation aimed at undermining troop morale.
Niger has experienced a surge in militant violence since a military coup in July 2023 overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum. Armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and DAESH have intensified their activities across the region.
This year alone, over 1,500 people—including civilians and soldiers—have been killed in attacks, a significant rise compared to 650 fatalities recorded in 2023, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
