Niger assault: Greater than 200 gunmen on motorbikes storm military base in Banibangou

Greater than 200 gunmen on motorbikes have attacked a Niger military base close to the border with Mali, leaving a minimum of 34 troopers useless, the nation’s defence ministry stated.

The attackers – described by the ministry as “mercenaries” – raided the bottom within the western city of Banibangou on Thursday, injuring 14 different troopers.

The ministry stated that its forces killed “dozens of terrorists” within the battle.

Niger’s navy is underneath strain for failing to curb militant assaults, one among its justifications for deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023.

“This Thursday, June 19, a cowardly and barbaric assault was carried out in opposition to [the town of] Banibangou by a horde of a number of hundred mercenaries aboard eight autos and greater than 200 motorbikes,” the ministry stated in an announcement learn out on state TV.

It added that the troops have been conducting search operations in Banibangou to trace down the attackers.

The city, which lies near the three-way border between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is vulnerable to jihadist assaults from Islamist teams.

Niger’s ruling junta has expelled French and US forces that had been closely concerned within the struggle in opposition to jihadists.

West African neighbours Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali are dealing with an insurgency from totally different jihadist teams which function throughout the Sahel area.

The three international locations have shaped an alliance to struggle the jihadists and scaled again ties with the West, turning to Russia and Turkey as a substitute for his or her safety wants.

However the violence has continued.