At least nine civilians, including a teacher, were killed in a suspected jihadist attack in southwestern Niger near the border with Burkina Faso, local sources confirmed on Sunday.
The attack occurred on the morning of Friday, June 13, around 10:00 a.m. (0900 GMT), on the road connecting the towns of Makalondi and Torodi, an area frequently targeted by extremist groups. According to a statement by a local teachers’ union, one of its members was among the dead and another was seriously injured and later evacuated to Niamey for medical care.
Describing the incident as a “despicable act,” the union condemned the targeting of civilians, particularly educators, in what has become a dangerous zone due to increasing insurgent activity. A Torodi resident also confirmed civilian casualties in the ambush, further highlighting the deteriorating security in the region.
Makalondi and Torodi lie within Niger’s volatile Tillaberi region, specifically the “three borders” zone shared with Burkina Faso and Mali. The area has long been a hotspot for attacks carried out by affiliates of Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, and remains a key operational ground for both groups.
In response to such threats, Niger’s military reported over the weekend that it had “neutralised” 13 suspected jihadists during operations targeting illegal gold mining sites in Teguey, also in Tillaberi, between June 8 and 14. Additionally, security forces reportedly eliminated around 30 individuals believed to be part of “criminal cells in training” in the Dosso area, near the Nigerian border.
Niger, along with fellow junta-led neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, has continued to face rising jihadist violence despite military-led governance. The three countries recently solidified their cooperation through the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and earlier this year announced the deployment of a joint 5,000-strong military force to combat the growing security threat in the region.
Written By Rodney Mbua
