In a daring overnight raid, suspected fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked a military position in Diffa, Niger State, leading to the temporary abandonment of the post by security forces. The militants then briefly infiltrated a civilian neighborhood before retreating with looted goods.
The assault commenced just after midnight on February 14-15, with the attackers employing heavy gunfire from automatic weapons to overpower the military outpost. A local resident described the scene: “The attack began around midnight. The militants used automatic weapons, and the soldiers had to pull back.”
Following the withdrawal of the troops, the insurgents moved into the Festival Quarter, a densely populated district in Diffa. They stayed long enough to gather supplies before withdrawing from the area. Images purportedly showing the pilfered items have been shared on social media, though these have not yet been officially verified.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Nigerien authorities regarding the attack or the subsequent incursion into civilian areas. The situation remains tense in Diffa as residents and local officials await further details and responses from the government.