By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

No fewer than 14 members of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces have been killed following a coordinated terrorist attack and subsequent ambush in N’Guigmi, located in the Diffa Region of southeastern Niger Republic.

The deadly incident reportedly occurred on Friday morning when heavily armed terrorists launched an assault on a security formation in the area, triggering a fierce confrontation with government forces.

According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who disclosed details of the attack on his official X account, the assailants struck at approximately 9:30 a.m., advancing from the Sabon Carré area situated southwest of N’Guigmi.

The terrorists reportedly targeted a National Guard position located near the town’s cemetery, catching security personnel off guard and sparking an immediate military response.

Sources familiar with the incident said reinforcements were swiftly deployed to pursue the fleeing attackers after the initial assault.

However, as the security forces advanced, they reportedly encountered a carefully planned ambush approximately one kilometre south of the National Guard post.

The ambush resulted in significant casualties among the responding troops, with several personnel killed in the exchange of gunfire.

Preliminary casualty figures indicate that 14 security operatives lost their lives, including 10 soldiers of the Niger Armed Forces (Forces Armées Nigériennes – FAN) and four members of the National Guard.

Among the slain soldiers was a military officer, underscoring the severity of the attack and the losses suffered by the security forces.

The incident highlights the persistent security challenges confronting Niger, particularly in the Diffa Region, which has experienced repeated attacks by terrorist and insurgent groups operating across the Lake Chad Basin.

Authorities were yet to issue an official statement on the attack as of the time of filing this report, while efforts to track down the perpetrators were said to be ongoing.

The latest assault is expected to heighten concerns over the security situation in the region and may prompt renewed military operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks operating along Niger’s southeastern corridor.

Security observers note that attacks targeting military and security formations have continued to pose a major threat to stability in parts of Niger and the wider Sahel region, despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts by national and regional forces.