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Une dizaine de soldats tués par Boko HaramNiger: over ten soldiers killed in boko haram assault near n’guigmi
The assault on the military position
Boko Haram militants targeted a position held by the Defense and Security Forces in the vicinity of N’Guigmi, a garrison town located in the Diffa region. This area, bordering Lake Chad, holds significant strategic importance as it lies at the crossroads of Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad. The offensive unfolded on Friday morning, resulting in substantial casualties among the military personnel.
Casualties and local reports
A resident of N’Guigmi, who preferred to remain anonymous for safety concerns, confirmed that approximately ten soldiers were killed during the Boko Haram attack on Friday morning near N’Guigmi. The same individual also stated that there were fatalities among the assailants and that the army was conducting sweep operations. Additionally, some town residents reported a higher death toll on social media, indicating that
ten military personnel and four National Guard members were killed
.The Nigerien Press Agency (ANP), while not providing an exact figure, reported that the victims
“lost their lives following an attack by Boko Haram elements on the outskirts of the city of N’Guigmi”
. General Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma, the Governor of the Diffa region, attended the burial of the fallen soldiers just hours after the incident.Security context in the Sahel
Since 2009, N’Guigmi has become a jihadist stronghold, harboring fighters from both Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Lake Chad, a vast expanse of water and marshlands, provides a sanctuary for these armed groups, enabling them to launch incursions into neighboring countries. The jihadist insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions in northeastern Nigeria, with the violence gradually spreading across Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
Regional response and security challenges
In response to this persistent threat, the nations within the Lake Chad Basin have reactivated their joint multinational force, originally established in 1994. Furthermore, Chad conducted airstrikes and ground operations in mid-May against Boko Haram positions on remote islands within the lake, supported by Nigeria and Niger. However, Niger’s western regions are simultaneously grappling with violence from jihadist factions affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State organization. The military regime, which assumed power in July 2023, is struggling to contain these escalating attacks.
