At least 38 Nigerien soldiers were reportedly killed in two separate attacks by suspected Islamic State fighters on military positions in Niger, raising fresh concerns over the growing threat posed by extremist groups across the country.
The development was reported by security analyst Zagazola Makama.
According to the report, the latest attack occurred on Friday when suspected Islamic State fighters launched a coordinated assault on a military position at Dankassari, located between Doutchi and Yaya in Dosso Region.
Makama reported that the attackers overran the forward operating base of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces, FDS, after intense fighting.
He further said at least 21 soldiers were killed during the attack, while the number of injured or missing personnel had yet to be confirmed.
“The consolidated casualty figure stood at 21 soldiers killed. The number of wounded or missing personnel was not immediately available,” Makama said.
The report stated that the attack came hours after another deadly assault on the town of N’Guigmi in Diffa Region, where 17 members of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces, including an officer, were reportedly killed in a separate attack also blamed on suspected Islamic State fighters.
According to the report, the two incidents pushed the death toll among Nigerien security personnel on July 31 alone to 38.
Makama noted that the attacks underscore the persistent security challenges confronting Niger despite ongoing military operations targeting extremist groups operating in the Tillabéri, Dosso, Diffa and Tahoua regions.
The report also cited data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, ACLED, showing that at least 5,828 people, including more than 2,000 members of the country’s Defence and Security Forces, have been killed in terrorism-related violence since the military takeover on July 26, 2023.
IS fighters overrun two Niger military bases, 38 soldiers confirmed dead