According to a statement released by the army in Niger Republic 15 civilians were killed, and several others were injured after multiple terrorist attacks rocked villages in western Niger near the Burkina Faso border.
“In the area of Mehana, terrorist elements perpetrated several heinous acts of violence against the defenceless civilians, with a heavy and tragic toll,” it read.
Among the six areas targeted in Niger’s Tillaberi region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, is Mehana which is a hideout for jihadists linked to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.
Reports say Mehana is frequently targeted by the terrorists, which in turn leads to massive displacement.
On Tuesday, in the Tillaberi region, one civilian was killed and three others were wounded in a clash between an army reconnaissance unit and “terrorists” near the town of Chatoumane.
“The security forces reacted effectively, neutralising several terrorists,” it said.
Niger is currently being ruled by military leaders who took over in a coup in July, citing deteriorating security conditions as their reason for seizing power.
The country is also facing violence from Boko Haram insurgents and their rivals, the Islamic State West Africa Province, particularly in the southeastern region of Diffa near Nigeria.
According to Acled, a conflict tracking organisation, insurgents have killed about 1,500 civilians and soldiers in Niger Republic over the past year, compared to 650 in the year leading up to July 2023.