34 Soldiers Killed, 14 Injured in Militant Attack in Niger

At least 34 Nigerien soldiers were killed and 14 others injured in a large-scale militant attack on the town of Banibangou, located in western Niger near the border with Mali, according to an official government statement.

The assault, which took place on Wednesday, was reportedly carried out by hundreds of armed militants who used dozens of vehicles and motorbikes to launch a coordinated strike on the military forces stationed in the area.

Government sources confirmed that dozens of the attackers were also killed in the confrontation, though no exact number was provided.

The intensity and scale of the operation have raised serious concerns about the security situation along Niger’s volatile border with Mali, a region frequently targeted by extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The latest attack marks one of the deadliest incidents for Niger’s military this year, highlighting the persistent threat posed by armed insurgent groups operating in the Sahel region. Authorities have not yet confirmed which group was responsible, but investigations are ongoing.

Niger remains a frontline state in the battle against jihadist violence in West Africa. Despite regional and international efforts to stabilize the area, deadly attacks against military and civilian targets continue to occur with alarming frequency.