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At least 46 soldiers of the Nigerien defense and security forces (SDF) were reported killed in an attack by militants of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) on Saturday.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the attack targeted an SDF position in Iknewane, Tilia department, near the Mali border in Niger’s Tahoua region.
The publication described the attack as a large-scale and highly intense coordinated operation that caught the military by surprise.
It said the attackers, who reportedly were heavily armed and in large numbers, overran the base and destroyed nine out of the 16 military vehicles stationed there.
Zagazola added that the militants looted weapons and ammunition, noting that a dozen soldiers were reportedly taken hostage while several others remain 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.
The attack on the Iknewane position was not the first time. On September 18, 2024, EIGS militants carried out a similar attack, which led to the death of at least 24 soldiers.
The Tahoua region, particularly areas bordering Mali, has seen a rise in militant violence.
The Nigerien government continues to face security challenges in its border regions, with armed groups launching frequent attacks on military and civilian targets.
