Soldiers slaughtered in jihadist offensive close to Mali

Fatal Jihadist Attack in Niger: Twelve Soldiers Killed

On Friday, a shocking jihadist attack took the lives of twelve Nigerian soldiers in the west of the country, close to Mali, according to the army's operations bulletin revealed Saturday evening. These soldiers were part of the anti-terrorist operation Almahaou, who tragically lost their lives when their unit came under "cowardly attack by terrorist elements concealed among civilian camps," roughly ten kilometers north of Sakoira, a locality near Tillaberi, a major city in western Niger.

The attackers launched a surprise offensive against the patrol, which responded before the arrival of land and air reinforcements, as detailed by the army. These reinforcements pressured the enemy to flee toward Mali. Saddened by the loss, the army declared, "Twelve of our brave soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the nation," and added that "a massive manhunt operation has been initiated," and that "two suspects believed to have participated in the attack have been apprehended."

Just a few weeks earlier, five soldiers from operation Almahaou also lost their lives in the vicinity of Sakoira when their unit was targeted by jihadists hidden among the civilian population.

Jihadist Escalation in the Region

The vast Tillaberi region (over 100,000 km2), located at the junction of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, has been the setting for deadly attacks for years. Jihadist groups connected to Al-Qaeda and ISIS are responsible for these acts of violence, despite a significant military deployment in the area.

In its southeastern part, Niger, governed since July 2023 by a military regime following a coup d'état, faces jihadist attacks from Boko Haram and ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISWAP).

On Monday, the army reported that they had "eliminated nine ISWAP terrorists" and "rescued several people" who had just been kidnapped. Furthermore, a patrol from the army responsible for monitoring the giant oil pipeline that transports crude oil to Benin had a "violent encounter" with "armed assailants" in the Tahoua region (West), the army reported. "Five attackers were killed and nine wounded," according to their statement.

Exploring the Root Causes and Evolution of Jihadist Activity in Niger

Jihadist groups exploit the region's porous borders, particularly the tri-border area between Niger, Burkina Faso, and Benin.
Increased military operations in Burkina Faso and Benin displace jihadist factions, pushing them toward Nigerien territory.
Weak governance and political instability in neighboring countries create security gaps.

Ongoing Threats and Military Responses

Jihadist groups continue to commit high-casualty attacks, as demonstrated by the March 21, 2025, ISGS attack on the Fambita Mosque in southwestern Niger, which killed 44 civilians.
Jihadist factions have expanded their tactics, including the use of drone-dropped explosives in coastal West Africa.
Regional forces are increasing operations, although specific data remains scant, with Burkina Faso and Nigerien forces quintupling their operational tempo in border zones.

While military efforts aim to counteract jihadist activity, their effectiveness is hampered by cross-border fluidity and insufficient regional coordination.

Despite the significant increase in military operations, jihadist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS continue to sell terror in the Tillaberi region of Niger, which spans over 100,000 km2, shared with Mali and Burkina Faso.
The escalation of jihadist activities in the region, such as the recent attack on the anti-terrorist operation Almahaou, has led to the sad reality of more soldiers being sold for their lives, like the twelve who were killed in the attack near Sakoira.
In the future, as politics unfold in 2023 following the military regime takeover in Niger, the government may need to reassess its strategies to combat terrorism, such as general-news decryption of intelligence to better understand the root causes and evolution of jihadist activity in the region.
To catch those responsible for war-and-conflicts-related crimes, like the attackers who sold their lives to terrorism in the recent attack on Almahaou soldiers, crime-and-justice authorities could potentially utilize advanced decryption tools to track their movements and connections.
Amidst the ongoing battles and suspect arrests, it's crucial for regional forces to collaborate more effectively, ensuring a united front against jihadist activity, ultimately leading to a more peaceful and safer West Africa for civilian populations.