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In recent days there’s been yet another escalation of terrorist activity in Nigeria and Niger.
On June 19th, unknown armed bandits killed one, injured six and kidnapped two people in attacks on seven different communities in Shiroro local government’s area in Niger.
Shiroro is a volatile area, where attacks of this kind are frequent.
On June 16th, once again five civilians were killed in the area. And this itself came just several days after 4 police officers were killed in clashes.
In neighboring Nigeria, the situation is not much different. At least 82 bodies were recovered in the northeast of the country, following four attacks in three different locations, allegedly carried out by Boko Haram members.
The Nigerian army said in a statement that only 20 Boko Haram militants were killed by troops while repelling an attack in Monguno, one of the locations of the four attacks this weekend.
The army said that the militants had “attempted to breach the town” but troops inflicted heavy casualties on them. Some of the militants were captured and their equipment, including four gun trucks, was destroyed.
The media and other local sources, including humanitarian workers, confirmed some 20 soldiers were killed while repelling the attack in Monguno.
In Gubio and Nganzai, two other locations that came under intense attacks by the Boko Haram militants, a total of 42 civilians were killed on the same day, according to a top military officer.
On June 9th, at least 81 residents were killed by Boko Haram militants in another village in Gubio, according to local officials.
Boko Haram, and other terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda carry out frequent attacks in the region, and they seem to be operating largely undeterred, with the attacks becoming increasingly bloody.
This is happening despite claims by Nigerian authorities that an effective anti-terrorism operation is being carried out.
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The attacks in Nigeria and Sahel nations of NE Africa from Chad to Mali is extremely bloody and highly dangerous than even the Middle-east or North Africa. Dozens killed per raid is the norm there while other areas, no more than one dozen per raid or even handful of people