ECOWAS Condemns Attack on Beninese Border Districts with Niger, Burkina Faso

•Terrorists attack Nigeria’s border facilities 

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has condemned an attack on Benin Republic by suspected terrorists, which left many people dead, including soldiers.
In a related development, suspected terrorists also attacked Nigeria’s border facilities at the Kangiwa Border in Kangiwa Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Reports had it that Benin forces suffered heavy losses in the attack near the border with Niger and Burkina Faso, two Sahelian countries, which left ECOWAS after the military regime of the countries came under attack.
The national guard’s chief of staff, Colonel Faizou Gomina, was reported to have said one of Benin’s most well-equipped military positions was hit in the north last Wednesday evening.
“We’ve been dealt a very hard blow,” he had said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Benin Republic has in recent years witnessed increasing attacks in the northern region blamed on jihadist groups based in neighbouring countries.
More than 120 Beninese military officers were killed between 2021 and December 2024, a diplomatic source told the AFP news agency.
Though Gomina did not provide a death toll for Wednesday’s attack, the main opposition party, The Democrats, said about 30 soldiers were killed in the Alibori region.
Just last month, gunmen killed three soldiers and wounded four others who were guarding an oil pipeline in the north-east of the country.
The recent attack could have led to 28 deaths, according to AFP.
In 2022, Benin deployed nearly 3,000 troops to curb cross-border incursions and reinforce security in the north.
In a communique at the weekend, ECOWAS Commission condemned the heinous attacks in the Point Trible area by unidentified armed men on Wednesday, 8 January 2025, which it resulted in dozens of casualties.
The communique read, “The ECOWAS Commission expresses its deepest condolences to the government, security forces, and people of the Republic of Benin, as well as to the families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives protecting their country and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
“ECOWAS remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicate terrorism in West Africa, including through the on-going operationalization of the Counterterrorism Plan of Action in all its forms. ECOWAS calls on all Member States to intensify their cooperation in intelligence sharing and border security.
“ECOWAS expresses its full solidarity with the Government and people of Benin. It reiterates its determination to accompany Member States in their efforts to ensure the safety and security of Community citizens.”
Meanwhile, terrorists were said to have killed four persons, a local watchman and three contractors, at a Nigerian border town.
A statement by the spokesman of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kenneth Udo, said, “The service regrets to announce a recent attack by a suspected terrorist group on Border facilities and contractors on site, at the Kangiwa Border in Kangiwa Local Government Area of Kebbi State about 1920 hours on Friday, 10th, January 2025.
“The attack led to the death of four persons; a local watchman and three contractors. No Immigration officer was killed during the attack. However, the service recorded substantial damages on its border facilities.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the deceased. The service is actively working alongside other sister security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for these heinous acts and bring them to justice.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains steadfast in fulfilling its core mandate of border security, aligned with the overarching objective of enhancing national security.”

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