Petel Kole attack

Petel Kole attack
Part of Jihadist insurgency in Niger
LocationPetel Kole border outpost, Niger
DateMarch 17, 2022
Deaths21 killed
  • 19 civilians killed
  • 2 policemen killed
Injured5
Perpetrator Islamic State – Sahil Province (per ACLED)

On March 17, 2022, suspected Islamic State - Sahel Province militants attacked a bus traveling from Burkina Faso to Téra, Niger, in the Nigerien village of Petel Kole, killing at least twenty-one people including two Nigerien police officers.

Prelude

Throughout the jihadist insurgency in Niger, the Burkinabe-Nigerien border, in particular the tripoint area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has been a hotbed of jihadist violence by groups such as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (which renamed to IS - Sahel in March 2022).[1] The Petel Kole border post, directly on the border between Burkina Faso and Niger, has seen several attacks by ISGS since the jihadist insurgency spread to Niger.[2] An October 2021 attack killed three Nigerien police officers and wounded several others at Petel Kole.[2]

Attack

As the bus reached the border post from Burkina Faso, several attackers on motorcycles drove up to the bus and set fire to it.[3] The bus was carrying dozens of people, and lots of fruits and vegetables at the time.[2] In the attack, nineteen civilians on the bus were killed, and two policemen manning the border post were killed in the fire as well.[4] Two others were killed whenever the truck behind the bus caught fire as well.[2] Five people were injured, including a policemen, and the wounded were sent to Niamey for treatment. Seven people also managed to escape the bus, including four women and three men.[2]

Aftermath

Nigerien security sources claimed to have recaptured the Petel Kole border post after the attack, and deployed reinforcements to the area.[3] The Nigerien Modern Transport Company, which owns the bus that was attacked, announced a halt in bus departures between Niger and Burkina Faso after the attack.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Spotlight on Global Jihad, March 17-23, 2022". Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. March 24, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Suspected Jihadist Attack Kills 21 In Niger". VOA. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  3. ^ a b "At Least 19 Killed in Niger Terrorist Attack - Other Media news". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  4. ^ "ACLED Regional Overview: Africa 9-15 April 2022". Armed Conflict Location and Event Database. April 21, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2023.