TESSA, DOSSO REGION, NIGER – AUGUST 21, 2026 Armed men attacked a National Gendarmerie post in southwestern Niger. According to local sources, the attackers arrived on several motorcycles, surrounded the gendarmerie post, and subsequently looted it. According to local reports, at least 18 gendarmes were killed in the attack, while at least three security forces members reportedly survived. The attackers also reportedly damaged two local money transfer agencies afterward.
The attack comes amid the deteriorating security situation in Niger and the wider Sahel region. The country has faced long-term violence from jihadist groups primarily linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, while in recent years armed activity has increasingly spread into southwestern Niger as well. The Dosso region is particularly sensitive because of its location near the borders with Nigeria and Benin, where routes used by armed groups pass through. Lakurawas and other militant groups are among those operating in the area.
The exact number of casualties, however, remains uncertain. Sources citing AFP reported 15 dead gendarmes, while several local media outlets reported 18. Furthermore, no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, so it cannot be attributed with certainty to any specific organization.
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