Niger Security Forces Arrest Terrorists in Ongoing Counterterrorism Operations

Niger's security forces have arrested terrorists during patrols and control missions as part of ongoing counterterrorism operations. The arrests come amid escalating clashes between Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terror groups in the Lake Chad Basin region over the past week, which have claimed over 100 fighters from both sides.

In recent operations, troops of Sector 1, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), located in Mora, Cameroon, neutralized three Boko Haram terrorists in two separate engagements at Zigue and Soueram near the Cameroon-Nigeria border. The operations led to the recovery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment from the terrorists.

The MNJTF has expressed appreciation for the support and information provided by local communities, which have been assisting in these successes. The task force appealed for continued and increased community support as it remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of the Lake Chad basin and eliminating the menace of terrorism in the region.

Why this matters: The ongoing counterterrorism efforts in Niger and the Lake Chad Basin region aim to restore stability and prevent the recruitment of young people by terrorist groups. The success of these operations relies heavily on collaboration between security forces and local communities in the fight against terrorism.

Attacks by Boko Haram militants have spilled over into Niger's Diffa region since 2015, jeopardizing the production of key resources and hindering the completion of vital development projects. The military regime in Niger has launched work to develop agricultural sites aimed at reducing unemployment and countering terrorist recruitment.

Nigerian security forces, in collaboration with the MNJTF, also conducted air strikes on April 23, 2024, against terrorist hideouts in Borno state, Nigeria. The strikes, supported by Niger's Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance aircraft, resulted in the elimination of numerous terrorists and the destruction of several structures in the targeted areas.

Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of Nigeria's National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), reiterated the government's commitment to counter-terrorism through policies and strategies addressing the root causes of violent extremism. The NCTC has been granted the mandate to coordinate all counter-terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism efforts in the country using a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

The recent counterterrorism operations and arrests by Niger's security forces demonstrate the ongoing efforts to combat the threat of terrorism in the region. As Maj.-Gen. Laka stated, "The government has taken various actions, such as enacting the TPPA 2022, signing a handover protocol on the handling of children associated with armed conflict, and developing the Nigeria Call for Action."

Key Takeaways

• Niger's security forces arrested terrorists in counterterrorism operations.
• Over 100 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters killed in clashes in Lake Chad Basin.
• MNJTF neutralized 3 Boko Haram terrorists near Cameroon-Nigeria border.
• Nigerian forces conducted air strikes on terrorist hideouts in Borno, Nigeria.
• Niger's government committed to counter-terrorism through policies addressing root causes.