Armed Men Kill 11 Security Force Members in Niger Attacks, Government Says

Armed Men Kill 11 Security Force Members in Niger Attacks, Government Says
Niger's anti-riot police officers arrive in a street in Niamey, Nigeria, on Feb. 23, 2021. (Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images)
Reuters
4/15/2022
Updated:
4/15/2022

NIAMEY—Unidentified armed men killed seven border police and four National Guard members in separate attacks in different parts of Niger, the government said on Wednesday.

Both of the attacks were on Tuesday—one on a police post in Petelkole, on the western border with Burkina Faso, and one on a National Guard position in Djado, in the northern region of Agadez, a government statement said.

Niger, like its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, is battling groups linked to al Qaeda and ISIS which have killed thousands and displaced millions across West Africa’s Sahel region.

The attackers also stole vehicles from both security posts and more than 10 people were wounded, the government said.

Niger’s interior minister said security had been reinforced in both zones following the attacks.

By Boureima Balima