Breaking News

Breaking: Islamic State claims August killings of French aid workers in Niger

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:24 am

The Islamic State group claimed the August killing of six French aid workers and their two local guides in Niger.

The NGO workers, aged between 25 and 30, were visiting the Koure National Park, a popular nature reserve which sits 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Niger’s capital Niamey.

The statement, issued in the Islamic State publication al-Naba on Thursday and authenticated by US monitoring group SITE, said that the eight were killed after their capture in a “blitz attack”.

IS also said the attack was “a major security lapse” for France, which has more than 5,000 troops stationed in the Sahel region of West Africa to fight extremist groups.

French anti-terror prosecutors have already said that the attack appeared to be a “premeditated” strike against Westerners.

It is unclear if the French aid workers and their NGO Acted were specifically targeted.

French investigators have been sent to Niger to carry out the probe.

French President Emmanuel Macron has described the killings as “manifestly a terrorist attack” and said there would be repercussions.

(AFP)

Albert Echetah

Recent Posts

South African Group Petitions For Chidimma Adetshina’s Removal FromInternational Miss Universe Pageant Over Identity Fraud Allegations

A group called Progressive Forces in South Africa has launched a petition against MissUniverse Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina, with the aim…

November 5, 2024

Mauritius Reopens Social MediaAccess in Response to PublicPressure

Mauritius on Saturday overruled its decision to prohibit social media until the election onNovember 10th which was caused by a…

November 5, 2024

UAE Crown Prince Arrives in Ethiopia for WorldWithout Hunger Conference

The UAE’s Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed AlNahyan was in Addis Ababa…

November 5, 2024

Zimbabwe’s rich (Mbingas) linked to state looting

Gilbert Machokoto, a former teacher, said that setting up a business in the late 1980s, shortlyafter Zimbabwe's independence, was ‘like…

November 4, 2024

Historic Shift in Botswana as PresidentConcedes to Opposition Victory

Following elections in which the party that had ruled the diamond-rich nation for almost 60years suffered a historic setback. Botswana's…

November 4, 2024

Lightning Strike at Uganda Refugee CampClaims 14 Lives, Including Children

A lightning strike at a refugee camp in Uganda kills 14 people including children with 34 othershospitalized. The incident happened…

November 4, 2024

This website uses cookies.