RPG event in Niger on Sat 8th April 2023

The official report and the circumstances of the attack on the Tabarkat public escort, which fell into an ambush last Sunday, were made public on Tuesday, April 10, 2023. In a statement from the army staff signed by Brigadier General Ibra Boulama Issa, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, the report of this attack states 5 dead on the friendly side and 5 wounded, 3 of whom were evacuated the same day to Niamey.

The attack occurred at the time when the public escort of Tabarkat, composed in all of 4 Toyotas mounted with 12.7 machine guns, fell into an ambush 170 km from Tabarkat, at around 7 a.m., as indicated by the statement of the general staff which emphasizes that "the attackers armed with AK47s and RPG7s were on board 9 Toyotas mounted with 12.7 machine guns."

The report according to the same source, mentions 5 dead as well as 5 wounded on the friendly side, 3 of whom were evacuated the same day to Niamey.
The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, on behalf of the President of the Republic and that of the Minister of National Defense, addressed his saddened condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

He did not fail to express his encouragement to the FDS who continue to demonstrate their commitment and determination in their mission to defend the integrity of the national territory.

Furthermore, immediately after the attack, on the instructions of the President of the Republic, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, accompanied by the main leaders of the Niger Armed Forces (FAN), immediately went to the scene to study with the Chief of Staff of Operation "Tchibarkaten" and the military leaders of the area, the necessary measures to be taken.

The release of this official press release from the army general staff thus cuts the grass from under the feet of many commentators who are particularly versed in disinformation on social networks.

Since 2015, Niger has been waging a merciless war against armed terrorist groups carrying out attacks on its southeastern and western borders in the three-border area. The Niger Defense and Security Forces are constantly pursuing their mission of securing the population and defending the national territory. As a result, they are sparing no effort to neutralize any threat from wherever it comes.