At least 46 soldiers of the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces (SDF) were reported k!lled in an attack by militants of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) on Saturday.
The attack, described as a large-scale and highly intense coordinated operation, targeted an SDF position in Iknewane, Tilia department, near the Mali border in Niger’s Tahoua region.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the attackers, heavily armed and in large numbers, overran the base, destroying nine out of the 16 military vehicles stationed there. The publication revealed that the militants looted weapons and ammunition, with reports of a dozen soldiers taken hostage and several others missing.
A military convoy of about 20 vehicles from the Niger Armed Forces (FAN) and another from the National Guard (GNN) have been deployed from Tahoua to conduct operations in the area.
This is not the first time the Iknewane position has been targeted. On September 18, 2024, EIGS militants launched a similar attack, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 soldiers.
The Tahoua region, particularly areas bordering Mali, continues to experience a rise in militant violence. The Nigerien government faces ongoing security challenges in its border regions, with armed groups frequently launching attacks on both military and civilian targets.