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Suspected members of the Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), a militant jihadist organisation, reportedly killed four soldiers in an attack on Tafouka, a town in Konni, Tahoua region in southern Niger.
The jihadist organisation, better known as the Lakurawa terror group in Nigeria, has been infiltrating northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from Niger Republic and Mali.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reports that a civilian was also killed in the attack, with two persons left fatally injured.
The publication quoted intelligence sources as saying that the assailants convened in the area, then dispersed into smaller units on motorcycles before launching the attack.
Makama added that a civilian project worker was intercepted, executed on the spot, and his motorcycle set ablaze by one of the groups.
Niger’s Defense and Security Forces (FDS) swiftly dispatched a reconnaissance team of six personnel in a specialised vehicle to survey the affected area.
“However, the vehicle fell victim to an ambush by the attackers, leading to the deaths of four soldiers and leaving two others critically injured. The vehicle was destroyed in the assault,” the publication said.
“Confronted with significant risks, the FDS personnel stationed in Tafouka opted to retreat toward the town of Konni without engaging further with the attackers.”
The publication added that the incident triggered transportation chaos in the region, causing multiple buses and trucks to reroute to Konni for safety.
