The army confirmed on Saturday that a “complex terrorist attack” took place in southwestern Niger, resulting in the loss of life of one police officer and four civilians.
The incident occurred in an area where numerous civilians have recently fled their homes to escape the violence perpetrated by militants.
According to a statement from the army, the attack occurred on Friday afternoon, specifically targeting a group of paramilitary police who were providing escort to a convoy along a road near the border with Burkina Faso.
The attack resulted in the loss of five lives and left 19 individuals injured, including seven officers, five soldiers, and seven civilians. All the injured individuals were subsequently transported to the capital city of Niamey for medical treatment.
“On the side of the enemy, two terrorists were killed,” said the statement.
According to the United Nations (UN), the expansive arid region, which spans an area approximately equivalent to the size of South Korea, is home to approximately 150,000 internally displaced people.
In an update on Wednesday, the UN and local authorities disclosed that nearly 11,000 individuals had fled their residences in the region just within this month.
Niger, recognized as one of the world’s poorest nations, is grappling with militant violence that has extended from northeastern Nigeria into its southeastern regions.