Niger: Bankilaré Under Terrorist Siege as Residents Face Isolation and Food Shortages
The security situation in Bankilaré, a department in Niger’s Tillabéri region, has reached a critical level as terrorist groups have imposed a blockade, cutting off the area from the outside world.
For months, the Téra-Bankilaré route has been under total control of armed groups, making travel extremely dangerous for residents.
The terrorists have closed the national highway (RN5), forcing vehicles to take an alternative route through Lemdou, which serves as their stronghold. Any attempt to bypass this route is met with severe consequences, including the burning of intercepted vehicles.
Residents are making desperate pleas for assistance, reporting severe shortages of essential goods such as rice, oil, spices, tea, sugar, and salt. Many people remain stranded in Téra, unable to return home due to the persistent insecurity.
The blockade has been in place since last year, with reports emerging as early as August 2024 confirming that the Wamzarbe-Yatakala-Téra-Bankilaré axis is entirely under terrorist control.
According to a September report by the International Crisis Group, in areas where the state is nearly absent, terrorist groups enforce strict dress codes on young men and women.
Tillabéri has been one of the hardest-hit regions by terrorism. The Global Terrorism Index indicates that 59% of terrorist attacks in Niger occur in this region, accounting for 84% of the country’s total casualties.
Between January 2023 and May 2024, 2,312 people lost their lives due to terrorist-related violence, while 4.6 million residents live under constant threat within a 5-kilometer radius of terrorist strongholds.
