In a precision strike against terrorism, Niger’s defense forces captured a high-ranking member of the JNIM (Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims) on Thursday, April 3, 2025. The arrest took place around 6:30 PM along the Toro-Dignami axis in the volatile Tillabéri border region, marking a significant victory in the country’s counterterrorism efforts.
Key Details of the Operation:
- The suspect was intercepted while traveling in a suspicious vehicle during Operation NIYA
- Security forces recovered a combat weapon, multiple mobile devices, and 5.32 million FCFA (≈€8,000) earmarked for terrorist logistics
- Interrogations revealed a hidden supply base in Boborgou village containing:
Food stocks
• Phone credits
• Black straws for camouflage
• Pasta supplies stashed in a nearby school - The detainee is linked to stealing two IAS vehicles on the Makalondi-Niakatiré route
This operational success comes as Niger continues battling persistent jihadist threats across the Sahel – a key factor in the 2023 ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum.
The arrest underscores Niger’s renewed counterterrorism strategy while exposing JNIM’s sophisticated supply networks in the region.
Titi KEITA
