Benin: Attack on police post near Burkinabe border leaves one policeman dead February 9

Event

Unidentified gunmen attacked a police outpost in Kérémou (Alibori department), located near the border with Burkina Faso, early in the morning (local time) on Sunday, February 9. The assailants reportedly arrived on motorcycles, fired gunshots, and burned down the outpost. One policeman was killed and another was wounded in the attack. As of Monday, February 10, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to Beninese authorities, the attack was not terror-related but was the result of a nighttime security check, which escalated.

Additional security forces have been deployed in the area in search for the assailants.

Further similar incidents cannot be ruled out in the area.

Context

Militant groups are not regularly active in Benin. However, some Western government have advised citizens not to travel to northern areas of Benin along the border with Burkina Faso and Niger as terrorism has become an increasingly severe security threat in Burkina Faso and Niger, notably on border areas.

Two French tourists were abducted on May 1, in Pendjari National Park (Atakora department, Benin) and were subsequently rescued overnight (local time) on May 9-10 during a French-led military operation in northern Burkina Faso.

Advice

Individuals in Benin are advised to remain vigilant for criminal and militant activity, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.