Niger: Two soldiers dead in Boko Haram ambush Jan. 29

Event

At least two Nigerien soldiers were killed by Boko Haram in Diffa region on Monday, January 29. The militant group reportedly crossed into Niger from Nigeria and launched an ambush on a Nigerien military position near Chétimari in an hours-long attack that was eventually repelled by state forces. According to military sources, multiple Boko Haram fighters were also killed in the clashes.

Context

Niger faces a high threat from terrorism, including armed attacks and abductions. Militant Islamist cells from various Nigerian and Malian terrorist groups - including Boko Haram as well as Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), and Al-Mourabitoun - are all active in the country.

Advice

Individuals throughout Niger should exercise vigilance when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted by an attack (government buildings, prominent hotels, etc.) and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Many Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to areas located in the north and west of the country, as well as areas along the Nigerian border to the south, due to the high risk of terrorist activity.