A terrorist attack carried out in the Tillaberi region of Niger resulted in the death of a gendarme and four civilians, according to the general staff of the Nigerien armed forces.
According to a statement from the general staff of the Nigerien armed forces, a detachment of the national gendarmerie was targeted during an intense terrorist attack on the Torodi-Makalondi road, in the Tillaberi region, on July 14, 2023.
During this attack, a gendarme and four civilians lost their lives. Security forces responded vigorously, killing two terrorists, but 19 people were injured, including seven gendarmes, five soldiers, and seven civilians. The injured were evacuated to the capital Niamey for medical care.
Makalondi, which is located near the border with Burkina Faso, is the last Nigerien urban center in the Sahel zone. This region has long been the scene of terrorist attacks carried out by groups such as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS). Local communities live in a constant climate of insecurity, and these attacks have led to an increasing number of forced displacements. According to local and humanitarian sources, more than 10,800 people have been displaced since the beginning of July.
The precarious security situation in the Tillaberi region highlights the challenges Niger faces in combating terrorism. Nigerien authorities and their international partners are working together to strengthen security measures and protect local populations. However, these tragic events underline the importance of redoubling efforts to prevent and counter terrorist attacks in the region.
