Niger: at least 11 civilians killed in jihadist ambushes near the Malian border

Niger army soldier on patrol.

(Illustrative photo) ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

At least eleven Nigerien civilians were killed by jihadists on Saturday October 22 in the west of the Tillabéry region, when jihadists attacked truckers transporting food and construction equipment.

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With our correspondent in Niamey,

The interception of three trucks, carrying food and construction material for military infrastructure, took place in the rural commune of Tizigorou, prefecture of Banibangou, the last large town in Niger before the border with Mali.

According to several sources, about thirty motorcycles participated in the ambushes.

Two trucks were set on fire and a third loaded with food was taken away by the assailants.

Crossing the locality of Adabda, in their withdrawal towards the Malian border, the jihadists exchanged fire with young people from the Self-Defense Committee (Cad) of the village.

This massive presence of jihadist motorcycles in this area

comes after several months of calm mainly because of impassable tracks during the rainy season: the red zone is constantly in a state of emergency and bordering Malian localities which are terrorist strongholds.

Since these localities, numerous attacks have been planned which have bereaved Nigerien villages and soldiers, such as Tongo Tongo.

It is on this same border zone that

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• Niger

• mali

• Terrorism