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At least 46 soldiers from Nigerien defence and security forces lost their lives on Saturday when militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) attacked a military base. The attack took place at an SDF position in Iknewane, located in the Tilia department near the Mali border in Niger’s Tahoua region.
According to Thecable, Reports from Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, stated that the attack was large-scale and well-coordinated, catching the military by surprise. The militants, armed and numerous, overran the base and managed to destroy nine of the sixteen military vehicles present. They also stole weapons and ammunition during the assault.
A dozen soldiers were reportedly taken hostage and several others remain missing. In response, a military convoy of about twenty vehicles from the Niger Armed Forces, along with another from the National Guard, has been sent from Tahoua to the area.
This incident follows a similar attack on September 18, 2024, when at least 24 soldiers were killed. The border areas in the Tahoua region continue to face serious security challenges.