Niger: 57 security personnel reportedly killed in two attacks in one day
By: Zagazola Makama
At least 57 members of Niger’s defence and security forces were reportedly killed in two separate attacks on Sept. 23, 2026, in the Tillabéri and Tahoua regions.
The latest reported casualty figures indicate that 38 soldiers of the Nigerien Armed Forces were killed when Islamic State militants allegedly attacked a military position at Dabagu, in the Konni Department of Tahoua Region.
According to reports from local sources, several soldiers are also missing following the attack, while the bodies of some of those killed were being transported to Tahoua. Other remains were reportedly evacuated to Niamey by helicopter.
The reported attack came on the same day as another deadly incident around Abala-Filingué in Tillabéri Region, where 19 gendarmes were reportedly killed in an attack attributed to Islamic State militants.
The combined provisional toll from the two incidents therefore stands at 57 members of Niger’s defence and security forces killed in a single day. However, the figures have not been formally confirmed by Nigerien authorities and may change as recovery and identification operations continue.
The incidents underline the continuing operational pressure facing Nigerien forces across multiple theatres, particularly in areas where armed groups maintain the ability to mount attacks against security positions and patrols.
Further details on the circumstances of the Dabagu attack, including the number of wounded and the status of the missing personnel, remain unclear.
