Niger: at least six dead in the attack on a border post with Burkina

At least six people were killed overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in a double attack by suspected jihadists near the Niger-Burkina Faso border, Niamey authorities said on Friday.

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“The provisional toll is as follows: six dead including a gendarme, two customs officers and three civilians. Ten wounded including four gendarmes, three police officers, two customs officers and a civilian, ”

details a press release from the Nigerien Ministry of the Interior read on public radio. The attacks carried out Thursday

by

targeted

two sites: the border police station and the weighbridge located near Makalondi, the last important town in Niger before the Burkinabè border, adds the ministry. Local sources told AFP on Thursday that several people were killed in the double attack.

the ministry noted on Friday.

Eight vehicles, including one from the police and seven belonging to individuals, were

, while two vehicles including one from the police were

by the attackers, he lists.

The ministry ensures that

, wooded and landlocked.

Makalondi is a town in the department of Torodi located in the southwest of the Tillabéri region, which is located in the area known as the

between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, which has become a haunt for Sahelian jihadists, including the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (EIGS).

Regular assaults

For years, western Niger has continued to be regularly targeted by attacks from Islamist groups, despite the massive deployment of national anti-jihadist forces and the state of emergency in force for years.

In November 2018, two gendarmes had already been killed in Makalondi when their position was attacked by men riding motorcycles.

On Wednesday, the governorate of Tillabéri announced the closure of many gas stations in several departments in order to disrupt the refueling of the jihadists, who operate on motorcycles and off-road.

In an attempt to prevent the movement and supply of jihadists, the authorities had already closed markets and refugee camps and banned the circulation of motorcycles.