The attack took place early this Thursday morning, December 23, in southern Niger in Makalondi, not far from the border with Burkina Faso. This time, the attackers attacked a police station and the customs weighbridge.
With our correspondent in Niamey, Moussa Kaka
The last police and customs control station on the southern border with Burkina Faso was attacked. Located 90 kilometers from Niamey, this post in the rural town of Makalondi, where police, gendarmes and customs officers are stationed, was completely burnt down. Presumably in numbers, the jihadists who came on motorcycles simultaneously attacked the two positions, that of the police and the customs weighbridge.
A provisional report shows at least seven dead: two customs officers, a police officer, a gendarme and three civilians, customs assistants, specifies a security source. Significant material damage was recorded. The weighbridge and the police station were completely burnt down. The same is true for several vehicles, including that of the police.
As soon as the alert was given, the special forces of Operation Saki 2 set in motion and according to well-informed sources, the soldiers of the Torodi detachment set out after the attackers.
Jihadist threat
For many months, the entire border area of Téra and Torodi is under jihadist threat. Schools are closed and the roads have become dangerous for users.
Two days ago, the governor of the Tillabéri region decided to close several dozen gas stations. All those located on the Makalondi axis, the border with Burkina Faso, are also closed. The objective of the state is to dry up the motorcycles of the jihadists who refuel in certain service stations in rural areas.