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26 Militias Reportedly Killed in ISGS Attack in Niger’s Tillabéri Region as the country faces unprecedented security collapse
26 Militias Reportedly Killed in ISGS Attack in Niger’s Tillabéri Region as the country faces unprecedented security collapse
By: Zagazola Makama
No fewer than 26 members of a local militia were reportedly killed on Feb. 26 during a large-scale attack by suspected fighters of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) in Niger’s volatile Tillabéri Region.
Local sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred in the Anzourou area, where armed assailants targeted militia positions across four villages to Doukou Makani, Doukou Djindé, Doukou Koira-Tegui and Doukou Saraou.
According to preliminary reports, the gunmen carried out coordinated assaults on the communities, resulting in significant casualties among members of the self-defence groups operating in the area.
Residents said the militias had been formed by local communities to protect themselves against recurring attacks by extremist groups operating in the region.
Tillabéri, located in western Niger near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, has been a hotspot of militant violence in recent years, with armed groups frequently targeting both security forces and civilian populations.
Niger is confronting an unprecedented security crisis, with northern regions increasingly falling under the control of armed groups, foreign rebels, and jihadist factions. The state’s territorial integrity is under severe threat, with grave implications for neighbouring countries, including Nigeria.
Since the July 2023 coup, Niger has witnessed a dramatic deterioration in security. Once largely confined to the tri-border area with Mali and Libya, insurgency and criminal networks now operate across vast stretches of the country, establishing quasi-permanent bases, checkpoints, and logistical corridors.
Recent clashes between Libyan rebel factions, including Katibat 604 and the Southern Revolutionaries, deep inside Niger’s territory highlight the scale of the challenge. Reports indicate these operations extend up to 200 kilometres from the border, conducted with helicopters, drones, and ground troops, capturing rebels and consolidating strategic corridors such as the La Salvador Pass a key conduit for arms, illicit goods, and militant movements.
It gathered that the Libyan operations, reportedly claimed by the 604 Brigade, are carried out independently of Nigerien forces. The Nigerien National Army or local security units were absent during these incursions, reflecting the limitations of the Nigerien army in securing its borders. The operation reportedly left five rebels dead and ten detained, including Moussa Worodougou, the younger brother of rebel leader Mahamat Worodougou.
Northern Niger has effectively become a “no man’s land,” with jihadist groups such as ISWAP, EIGS, and JNIM consolidating positions and exploiting weak state presence. Villages and towns, including Dosso, Tillabéri, Tahoua, and parts of the tri-border zone, are increasingly isolated, turning rural areas into hunting grounds for armed actors. Civilians, security personnel, and infrastructure are targeted with IEDs, ambushes, and raids, while law enforcement and army patrols remain sporadic and reactive.
The crisis is compounded by the presence of foreign-backed rebel movements like FACT and CCMSR, operating openly in Niger’s north with tacit protection or coordination with the Niamey junta. Analysts warn that these developments create a permissive environment where armed factions can reorganize, move freely, and threaten regional stability. The situation poses direct implications for Nigeria, particularly in its northern border states, as these corridors facilitate cross-border infiltration, arms smuggling, and militant movement.
Zagazola argue that the Nigerien army faces critical challenges in asserting authority, maintaining supply lines, and controlling territory in the north. Without robust coordination, intelligence-led operations, and international, the continued fragmentation of authority may allow armed groups to entrench themselves further, undermining both national and regional security.
Zagazola stress that the crisis is no longer merely a security issue. It reflects a wider institutional weakness, exposing governance failures, fragile command structures, and the limits of military capacity.
For Nigeria, the porous borders and neighboring instability has been enabling the insurgent groups with sanctuary which complicate the country’s counterterrorism operations, and amplify the risk of cross-border attacks like what we have been witnessing in Kebbi, Sokoto, Kwara and Niger state.
The Nigerien army, despite constrained resources, continues limited patrols and counter-insurgency efforts, but the scale of armed groups’ presence and the sophistication of cross-border networks demand sustained regional and international collaboration.
Zagazola emphasize that failure to address these strategic vulnerabilities risks turning Niger into a permanent sanctuary for militants, with destabilizing consequences across the Sahel and for Nigeria’s northeastern and Northwestern frontier.
26 Militias Reportedly Killed in ISGS Attack in Niger’s Tillabéri Region as the country faces unprecedented security collapse
Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Government has distributed relief materials to 434 indigenes of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area who were recently rescued by security agencies after spending three months in Boko Haram captivity.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the victims in Pulka on Monday and directed the immediate distribution of food and non-food items to support their recovery and reintegration.
In compliance with the Governor’s directive, the Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Ali Abdullahi Isa, promptly supervised the distribution exercise.
Each rescued person received a bag of rice, a bag of maize grits, a mattress, a wrapper, and a shadda, while children received two pairs of clothing.
In addition, 208 heads of households received N50,000 each, fulfilling Governor Zulum’s earlier pledge of financial assistance.
Speaking during the distribution, the SEMA Director General said the intervention was part of the government’s immediate response to ease the hardship faced by the rescued victims.
“I am here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who was here some few days ago, and to deliver the items he directed that it should be given to you as emergency relief,” Ali stated.
The rescued individuals are currently receiving medical care and psychosocial support at a government facility. Upon completion of the rehabilitation process, they will be reintegrated into their respective communities.
The exercise was carried out alongside the Chairman of Gwoza local government, representatives of the Ngoshe community, and other officials.
Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram
Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, marked Democracy Day with the handover of two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and critical logistics to the Nigerian Army, after joining internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a symbolic celebration and distribution of food items to 2,500 beneficiaries.
The armoured MRAPs delivered to the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai on Friday are intended to enhance troop protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and ambushes which remain a persistent threat in the fight against insurgents. Additional logistics include operational Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for frontline soldiers in difficult terrains.
Zulum also marked Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Madinatu camp where he distributed food supplies, non-food items, and cash gifts to thousands of beneficiaries.
The distribution, held at the Madinatu IDP camp, served to consolidate Zulum’s resettlement gains. Over the past seven years, Borno State Government has successfully resettled more than 2 million IDPs in their ancestral communities in a dignified and voluntary manner.
“It gladdens my heart today, the 12th of June, 2026, to celebrate June 12th, Democracy Day, here in Madinatu Camp, the only formal camp that is standing inside Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, today, to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind, for the distribution of food and non-food items. Inshallah, this camp will be closed this year. This will be our last distribution exercise in this camp, or the second to the last,” Zulum said.
However, Governor Zulum used the occasion to announce a timeline for the camp’s closure. The governor ordered that Madinatu camp be shut down within one month, vowing to similarly close most IDP camps across various Local Government Areas in the coming phase of his administration’s resettlement strategy.
“Democracy must translate into restoring the dignity of our people,” Zulum told the IDPs. “Living in camps is not a permanent solution. Our goal remains to return every displaced person to their ancestral homes with security and means of livelihood.”
In addition to the food items, Zulum approved N50,000 each for the 2,500 beneficiaries present at the event.
“Each of the 500 beneficiaries mentioned will receive a 25kg bag of rice and a 25kg bag of sorghum. Women will receive wrappers. I also promise to provide 50,000 naira to each beneficiary. This amount can be credited into their own individual accounts, inshallah,” Zulum said.
The exercise was attended by the APC’s State Deputy Chairman, Garba Mulima, APC State Vice Chairman (Central) Abdur Rahman Abdulkarim, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mallumbe, Member representing Jere at the State Assembly, Abba Kyari Kolo, commissioners and commissioner designates and several other senior government officials.
Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs
Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano
By: Michael Mike
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the arrest of a suspected gun courier intercepted while allegedly transporting weapons believed to be destined for criminal elements in Katsina State.
The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday, June 12, 2026.
Governor Yusuf described the operation as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes threatening communities across Northern Nigeria.
According to information provided by the DSS, the suspect, identified as Muhammad Abubakar, 30, was apprehended in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State while allegedly transporting four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes, three AK-47 rifles and two empty magazines to Funtua in Katsina State.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the suspect collected the weapons from an individual identified as Bello in the Maigatari border area of Jigawa State and was expected to receive N450,000 upon successful delivery of the arms.
Governor Yusuf praised the professionalism, vigilance and intelligence-driven approach of DSS operatives, noting that the timely interception prevented the weapons from falling into the hands of bandits and other criminal groups.
He said the operation underscored the critical role of intelligence gathering and effective collaboration among security agencies in tackling emerging security threats across the country.
The governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to supporting security agencies through sustained cooperation, logistics assistance and policies aimed at strengthening public safety throughout the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies to aid efforts to combat crime and maintain peace.
Governor Yusuf expressed confidence that ongoing investigations would lead to the arrest and prosecution of all individuals connected to the alleged arms trafficking network.
The statement was signed by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.
Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano
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