Three Nigerien soldiers killed in IED incident near capital city
At least three Nigerien soldiers were killed and 10 others injured on Sunday 25 January after an army patrol vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Bartchawal, Tillabéri Region, about 20 kilometres from the capital, Niamey.
It has been reported that the incident occurred late in the day along the Niamey–Filingué road axis when the patrol was returning from routine operations in the area.
It is understood the IED detonated as the military convoy passed, killing three soldiers on the spot and injuring 10 others, who were evacuated to medical facilities in Niamey for treatment. The attack was later claimed by the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a jihadist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, in a statement released on Monday.
"This is the first attack claimed by JNIM in this area so close to the capital," the sources noted.
They added that the Nigerien Armed Forces had reinforced security along the Niamey–Filingué corridor, with additional patrols and surveillance measures deployed to prevent further attacks and reassure residents.
Tillabéri region, in western Niger, has in recent years faced persistent security challenges linked to insurgent activities spilling over from the tri-border area of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
