Terror attack in Tillabéri point to persistent insecurity in Niger’s borderlands
By: Zagazola Makama
The Tillabéri region of Niger has once again been struck by tragedy following the killing of a senior local official and his security aide in an ambush by suspected Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) fighters.
Security sources confirmed that the attack took place on Monday, Sept. 22, at about 5:30 p.m., targeting the Delegated Administrator (AD) of Goroual rural commune in Wanzerbé department, along with his close protection officer, a municipal police agent.
According to reports, the AD, his bodyguard, and local self-defence volunteers were travelling discreetly to the Taswada gold mining site, about nine kilometres northeast of Wanzerbé. To avoid drawing attention in an area plagued by insecurity, the group had opted to move on a donkey-drawn cart instead of motor vehicles.
However, along the route, they were intercepted by several armed men riding motorcycles. A firefight ensued, leaving the AD and his guard dead on the spot, while others in the delegation managed to retreat and escape. The victims’ bodies were later retrieved, with burial scheduled for Wednesday in Niamey.
Only days earlier, residents of Goroual had staged a peaceful march to urge authorities to respond to the worsening violence threatening their communities.
killing once again illustrates the vulnerability of local administrators and community defence groups in the face of the persistent terrorist threat.
