Nigerien authorities have declared three days of national mourning. A mourning following the terrorist attack on Saturday, January 3, 2021. At least 70 people were killed in Tchomabangou and 30 in Zaroumadareye, regions located 120 km from the capital Niamey, or a total of 100 citizens.
Jihadists have committed one of the deadliest crimes in the Sahel. The assailants arrived on board a hundred motorcycles in the villages of Tchomabangou and Zaroumadereye, in the area known as the “three borders” of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. These countries have for many years been deeply affected by the bloody destructive operations of jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou expressed his condolences following the cowardly and barbaric attack on their villages. The security issue was one of his priorities when he was head of the Nigerian state.
Je voudrais au nom du peuple nigérien et en mon nom propre adresser nos condoléances les plus émues aux populations de Tchombangou et Zaroumdareye, suite à l’attaque lâche et barbare de leur village. Que l’âme des disparus repose en paix et prompt rétablissement aux blessés.
— Issoufou Mahamadou (@IssoufouMhm) January 3, 2021
The country is the scene of repeated attacks by armed men who act in the name of Islam. On 12 December, 34 people were massacred in the village of Toumour in the south-east. While the new attack was not claimed, the previous attack was claimed by Boko Haram.
As a result of these attacks, the Nigerian National Army suffered losses but also suffered two defeats in the west in 2019 when their camp was attacked: that of Inates had caused 71 deaths at the end of 2019, and that of Chinégodar 89 deaths at the beginning of 2020.
In addition to the three days of national mourning, a reinforced security system was also put in place in the border area of Mali.