According to the reports on Wednesday (11 December), Ten soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in a terrorist attack in Petel Kole, western Niger, near the Burkina Faso border. The Nigerien army reported that hundreds of armed militants on motorcycles launched the assault, attempting to seize control of the military position. At least 26 attackers were neutralized during the confrontation.
Following the Petel Kole attack, social media was flooded with reports of another deadly assault in Chatoumane, claiming that 91 soldiers and 40 civilians were killed. However, the Nigerien military firmly denied these allegations, dismissing them as unfounded. The army described the reports as an attempt by adversaries to demoralize troops and create divisions within the country.
Niger has faced persistent violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Since the military junta seized power in July 2023, the country has experienced a surge in attacks, particularly in its western border regions. The latest incidents underscore the continued security challenges confronting Niger’s military forces.
According to the conflict monitoring group ACLED, at least 1,500 civilians and soldiers have been killed in jihadist attacks in Niger over the past year. This figure doubles the death toll recorded between July 2022 and July 2023. The ongoing violence highlights the severe impact of insurgent activities on Niger and its neighboring Sahel countries.
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