By John Ikani
Niger’s Tillaberi region has been placed under curfew following a brazen jailbreak at a high-security prison known to house extremist fighters.
The incident occurred on Thursday at Koutoukale prison, roughly 50 kilometres northwest of the capital.
This is not the first attempt at escape from the facility, with authorities repelling similar attempts in 2016 and 2019.
The exact number of escapees remains unclear, but officials suspect some may be captured Islamist fighters affiliated with al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.
The government has imposed an overnight curfew across the entire Tillaberi region, restricting the movement of people, bicycles, and vehicles.
This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Niger and its neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso.
All three countries are currently under military rule and battling a growing jihadist insurgency.
Just this week, suspected al-Qaeda militants ambushed a military patrol in Tillaberi, leaving at least 14 soldiers dead and another 24 missing.
The regional response to the insurgency has shifted in recent months.
All three countries have expelled French forces previously deployed to assist in counter-terrorism efforts, and have instead turned to Russia for military support.
The violence has caused immense suffering, with thousands killed and millions displaced across the region, creating a major humanitarian crisis.
