A coordinated dawn assault by armed militants on Nigerien military positions in Bouloundjouga and Samira was forcefully repelled on Friday, July 4, leaving 41 attackers dead, according to an official statement broadcast by state media Télé Sahel.
The attack, which unfolded at 5:50 a.m. on the right bank of the Niger River in the western department of Gothèye, targeted advanced military posts as part of Operation NIYA.
Authorities described the perpetrators as “mercenaries,” though the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) later claimed responsibility through its affiliated Az-Zallaqa media platform.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the Niger Defense and Security Forces (FDS) launched a “forceful and coordinated” response, swiftly containing the assault and initiating a search operation supported by air and ground units. In addition to the 41 militants killed, several others reportedly fled, carrying away the bodies of fallen comrades.
The military seized a cache of weapons, including a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, 10 AK-47 rifles, and 10 motorcycles believed to have been used in the raid.
Despite the successful repulsion of the attackers, the operation came at a cost. Ten Nigerien soldiers were killed and 15 others injured, all of whom were evacuated to Niamey for medical treatment.
In an official statement, the Minister of State and Minister of National Defense conveyed the condolences of President General Abdourahamane Tiani to the families of the soldiers killed, describing them as “martyrs” and praising the army’s “unwavering determination” to defend national sovereignty.
He also dismissed claims circulated by jihadist networks that Nigerien forces had lost control of the targeted positions, firmly asserting that both Bulundjuga and Samira remain “entirely under the control” of the national army.
Meanwhile, JNIM claimed it had killed three soldiers and seized two military vehicles, heavy weaponry including DShK machine guns, RPG launchers, and multiple Kalashnikov rifles. These claims, however, have not been independently verified and contradict official figures.
The incident highlights the continuing volatility in western Niger, where jihadist groups remain active along the porous borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.
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