Niamey: Thirty-nine folks have been killed this week in two separate assaults in Niger’s western Tillabery area, the Niger Armed Forces (FAN) introduced on Saturday.
The incidents claimed the lives of 18 folks in Kokorou and 21 in Libiri, Xinhua information company reported.
“Two horrible tragedies occurred within the localities of Libiri and Kokorou: criminals, cornered by the incessant operations of the protection and safety forces, cowardly attacked defenseless civilians,” the FAN reported in its Saturday night information bulletin.
“Among the many victims are many ladies and youngsters,” the military mentioned, including that “within the face of those barbaric acts, the authorities expressed their deep indignation and solidarity with the bereaved households. They reaffirmed their dedication to take all crucial measures to search out and neutralize the perpetrators.”
Libiri and Kokorou are located within the “three borders” area, the place Niger shares boundaries with Mali and Burkina Faso. This space has turn into a hotbed of insecurity lately, suffering from assaults from numerous jihadist teams.
The operations occurred from December 12 to 14, the assertion mentioned with out detailing when the assaults occurred.
Nonetheless, Niger’s army junta dismissed reviews of the assault and deaths as “baseless assertions” and a “marketing campaign of intoxication”.
Niger’s army authorities has suspended the BBC for 3 months, claiming that it was spreading pretend information. Niger’s Communication Minister Raliou Sidi Mohamed mentioned that the choice would take impact instantly.
Niger has additionally suspended French shops France24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI), for the reason that army seized energy in a coup in July, 2023.
The junta authorities in Niger is below strain for failing to curb militant assaults, certainly one of its justifications for deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
In keeping with battle monitoring group ACLED, at the very least 1,500 civilians and troops have been killed in jihadist assaults in Niger previously yr.
