2016 Bani Bangou attack

2016 Bani Bangou attack
Part of Jihadist insurgency in Niger
DateNovember 8, 2016
Location
Bani-Bangou, Tillaberi Region, Niger
Result ISGS victory
Belligerents
Niger Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Aboubacar Chapori
Strength
17 20-30 men
2 pickups
10 motorcycles
Casualties and losses
5 killed
3 injured
2 hostages		 2 killed
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Jihadist insurgency in Niger

On November 8, 2016 Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) fighters attacked Nigerien forces in Bani-Bangou, Tillabéri Region, Niger.

Background

The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) was formed by Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, a former commander in Malian jihadist group MOJWA, after Sahrawi pledged bay'ah to Islamic State caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2015. al-Baghdadi recognized Sahrawi's group as the ISGS in October 2016, and the ISGS began its first attacks in Markoye, Burkina Faso and Koutoukole, Niger that same month.[1] A little over a month prior to the attack, 22 Nigerien soldiers were killed by unknown jihadists in Tazalit, Niger.[2]

Attack

Armed men attacked a Nigerien military outpost in Bani Bangou at around 5 a.m. on November 8, 2016.[3] Seventeen soldiers were present at the time of the attack.[4] The attackers arrived on ten motorcycles and two vehicles, and were led by ISGS commander Aboubacar Chapori, a close confidant of Sahrawi.[4][5][6] Fighting between the attackers and the Nigerien forces lasted for around an hour.[6] French planes from Operation Barkhane flew over the battle in a show of force, causing the jihadists to flee.[7] The jihadists abandoned the Bani Bangou post with two machine-gun equipped vehicles, and headed towards Mali.[6]

The ISGS did not claim responsibility for the attack, but French and Malian officials reported that ISGS and MOJWA militants were responsible.[5][8] The Nigerien Ministry of the Interior reported that five Nigerien soldiers were killed, three were wounded, and four were taken hostage.[5] Abdoul Wahid, who was taken hostage in the attack, stated that two soldiers were actually taken hostage, and the other was executed.[4] Two of the jihadists were killed in the battle and 26 were arrested afterward.[6] Wahid stated that the goal of the attackers was not jihad, but instead the killing of foreign soldiers.[4]

Further reading

  • Niger Islamic State hostage: "They want to kill foreign soldiers," - Ruth Maclean, The Guardian, June 5, 2018

References

  1. ^ "Examining Extremism: Islamic State in the Greater Sahara | Examining Extremism | CSIS". www.csis.org. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  2. ^ "UN condemns deadly attack on 'refugee hosting area' in western Niger | UN News". news.un.org. 2016-10-07. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  3. ^ "Niger: At least 5 soldiers killed in terrorist attack". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  4. ^ a b c d Maclean, Ruth (2018-06-05). "Niger Islamic State hostage: 'They want to kill foreign soldiers'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  5. ^ a b c "Niger: attaque meurtrière contre des militaires près de la frontière malienne". RFI (in French). 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  6. ^ a b c d "Niger : cinq soldats tués dans une attaque à Bani Bangou, dans la région de Tillabéri - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  7. ^ Lagneau, Laurent (2017-12-13). "Deux frappes aériennes françaises ont mis hors de combat une vingtaine de jihadistes au Niger". Zone Militaire (in French). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  8. ^ "Incident Summary for GTDID: 201611080028". www.start.umd.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-09.