“Militants Kill 46 Nigerian Soldiers in Coordinated Attack on Military Base”
At least 46 soldiers of the Nigerian Defense and Security Forces (SDF) were killed in a deadly, coordinated attack by militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) on Saturday.
The assault targeted a military position in Iknewane, located in Tilia Department near the Mali border in Niger’s Tahoua Region. Security sources have described the attack as large-scale, intense, and highly effective, catching the military off guard.
According to Zagazola Makama, a security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, the attackers, heavily armed and in large numbers, overwhelmed the SDF base. In the attack, they destroyed nine out of the 16 military vehicles stationed at the base, and looted weapons and ammunition.
In response, the Niger Armed Forces (FAN) and the National Guard (GNN) quickly deployed a military convoy of about 20 vehicles from Tahoua to conduct operations aimed at securing the area and retaliating against the attackers.
This is not the first time the Iknewane position has been targeted. On September 18, 2024, militants from the EIGS carried out a similar assault, which resulted in the deaths of at least 24 soldiers.
The Tahoua Region, particularly its areas bordering Mali, has increasingly become a hotspot for militant violence, with security forces continuing to face significant challenges in containing the escalating attacks.
