2016 Bani Bangou attack

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

2016 Bani Bangou attack
Part of Jihadist insurgency in Niger
DateNovember 8, 2016
Location
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

Background

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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

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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

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References

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  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.