46 Soldiers reportedly shot dead in deadly gunmen attack
In a brutal and coordinated assault on Saturday, at least 46 soldiers from the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces (SDF) were killed when militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) launched a devastating attack on an SDF outpost in the country.
The assault took place in Iknewane, Tilia Department, near Niger’s border with Mali, a region that has become increasingly vulnerable to extremist violence.
Security sources reported that the attack was highly sophisticated and caught the military off guard.
Heavily armed militants overran the base in what appeared to be a well-planned ambush.
They destroyed or seized nine of the 16 military vehicles stationed at the post and looted substantial amounts of weapons and ammunition.
In addition to the deaths, around a dozen soldiers were taken captive, while others remain missing.
Some soldiers managed to flee the scene on foot and were later rescued by military units.
The full scale of the damage is still being assessed, as search and rescue operations continue in the area.
In response, the Niger Armed Forces (FAN), along with reinforcements from the National Guard (GNN), quickly mobilised a convoy of around 20 vehicles from the nearby town of Tahoua to launch a counteroffensive and secure the region.
This attack is not the first of its kind at the Iknewane base.
On September 18, 2024, EIGS militants staged a similar strike, which resulted in the deaths of at least 24 soldiers.
The resurgence of militant violence in the Tahoua Region, especially along the porous border with Mali, highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by the Nigerien government as armed groups continue to target both military and civilian populations.
The Nigerien government remains in a heightened state of alert, grappling with increasing instability and mounting pressure from extremist factions operating in the Sahel region.
