Seven soldiers were killed on Friday after their vehicle hit a landmine in Niger’s southeast Diffa region, where jihadist groups are active, according to an army statement broadcast on state radio. Two soldiers who survived the blast were taken to Diffa to be treated for their injuries, said the statement. In May, Niger said the army had picked up nearly 1,400 Boko Haram followers who were fleeing into the country following clashes with ISWAP. The exodus started in March when ISWAP pursued Boko Haram in its forest hideout of Sambisa in northeastern Nigeria. Niger’s Diffa region has borne the brunt of jihadist attacks over the years but has been relatively calm since the start of 2023, a security source told AFP.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 17, 2023 02:58 UTC