NIAMEY, Niger (BN24) — More than 200 armed militants riding motorbikes stormed a Nigerien army base near the country’s western border with Mali, killing at least 34 soldiers in a deadly assault that underscores the growing jihadist threat in the Sahel region.
Niger’s defense ministry confirmed the attack on the military post in the town of Banibangou occurred Thursday, describing the assailants as “mercenaries” and part of a well-coordinated force using eight vehicles and more than 200 motorcycles.
“This cowardly and barbaric attack was carried out by a horde of several hundred mercenaries,” the ministry said in a statement broadcast on state television. Fourteen other soldiers were wounded during the ambush, while dozens of attackers were reported killed during the ensuing battle.
Banibangou lies near the volatile tri-border area where Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso converge — a hotspot for extremist violence driven by jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State. The zone has seen a steady escalation in deadly raids targeting civilians and security forces alike.
In the wake of the assault, Nigerien troops launched search operations in the surrounding area in a bid to locate and neutralize the remaining militants. The ministry did not provide details on which jihadist faction may have been responsible.
The attack is another blow to Niger’s ruling military junta, which seized power in a July 2023 coup, deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The junta had cited spiraling insecurity and jihadist insurgency as justification for its takeover — pledging to restore stability.
Since assuming control, Niger’s new leaders have expelled French and U.S. forces who were previously involved in counterterrorism operations across the region. Alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger has withdrawn from Western military partnerships and instead aligned with Russia and Turkey in a shift that has raised concerns among international allies.
Despite the new security posture and a growing alliance between the three Sahelian juntas, the insurgency continues to spread. Analysts warn that deteriorating regional cooperation and weakening state institutions are leaving large swaths of territory vulnerable to militant control.
Thursday’s assault marks one of the deadliest single attacks on Nigerien forces in recent months and further highlights the challenges facing the junta’s promise to curb terrorism and restore order in one of the world’s most unstable regions.
