Authorities in Niger have imposed a curfew in the Tillaberi region following a daring jailbreak at Koutoukale prison, a facility known for housing jihadists. The incident occurred on Thursday, July 11, 2024, approximately 50 kilometers north-west of the capital, Niamey, according to the interior ministry.
This is not the first attempt at Koutoukale prison; previous efforts in 2016 and 2019 were successfully repelled. The exact number of prisoners who escaped during this latest incident has not been disclosed, but it is believed that captured Islamist fighters associated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State were among them.
In response to the escape, officials have implemented an overnight curfew across the Tillaberi region, restricting all movement of pedestrians, bicycles, and motor vehicles. Heightened vigilance measures have also been ordered.
Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, all currently under military rule, has been grappling with escalating jihadist attacks. Just days ago, suspected jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda ambushed and killed at least 14 soldiers in the Tillaberi region, with an additional 24 soldiers reported missing.
Amid these challenges, the military-led governments of these countries recently expelled French soldiers who had been assisting in the fight against jihadists, signaling a shift towards seeking military support from other countries, including Russia.
The ongoing conflicts in the region have resulted in thousands of deaths and forced more than three million people to flee their homes, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis.
