Tragic Loss of 39 Lives in Dual Assaults in Niger
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Niamey, Dec 15 (NationPress) A total of thirty-nine individuals lost their lives this week due to two distinct assaults in the Tillabery region of western Niger, according to an announcement made by the Niger Armed Forces (FAN) on Saturday.
The attacks resulted in 18 fatalities in Kokorou and 21 fatalities in Libiri, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
"Two horrific tragedies unfolded in the areas of Libiri and Kokorou: criminals, feeling cornered by the relentless operations of our defense and security forces, cowardly targeted defenseless civilians," the FAN stated in its evening news bulletin.
"Among those who perished were numerous women and children," the army noted, further stating that "in response to these barbaric incidents, authorities conveyed their profound outrage and solidarity with the grieving families. They reiterated their determination to implement all necessary actions to locate and bring the assailants to justice."
Libiri and Kokorou are located in the three borders zone, an area where Niger borders Mali and Burkina Faso. This region has increasingly become a center of insecurity over the years, frequently facing assaults from various jihadist factions.
The operations reportedly occurred between December 12 and 14, although the exact timings of the attacks were not disclosed.
Despite this, Niger's military junta has labeled reports regarding the attacks and casualties as "groundless claims" and part of a "disinformation campaign."
The military government in Niger has also suspended the BBC for a period of three months, claiming it disseminated false information. Niger's Communication Minister Raliou Sidi Mohamed announced that this decision would be effective immediately.
Furthermore, Niger has suspended French media outlets France24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) since the military took control in a coup in July 2023.
The junta in Niger faces criticism for its inability to mitigate militant assaults, which was one of the reasons cited for the ousting of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
As per conflict monitoring organization ACLED, over 1,500 civilians and military personnel have died in jihadist attacks in Niger over the past year.
