By Riches Soberekon
In an ongoing fight against terrorism in Niger, six Nigerien soldiers and ten terrorists were killed in fighting on Sunday.
The soldiers were ambushed by a group of terrorists on motorcycles while they were in pursuit of suspected jihadists. The terrorists were eventually killed in a mopping up operation carried out by air and ground reinforcements.
The fighting took place in the locality of Sanam, which is situated in the Tillabéri region, in the so-called “three borders” zone located between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. This area is a hotbed of jihadist activities and has been the scene of numerous attacks in recent years.
The attack on the Nigerien soldiers comes just two weeks after five other national guard soldiers were killed and four wounded in an attack on their position in Bourkou Bourkou.
The head of the new regime in Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has justified the coup that brought him to power by citing the “security deterioration” in the country due to the violence of jihadist groups.
The fighting in Niger is part of a wider conflict that is taking place across the Sahel region. This conflict has been ongoing for several years and has caused widespread instability and suffering.
The international community has been working to help the governments of the Sahel countries to combat terrorism, but the problem remains a major challenge.
