The northern part of Benin has seen an increase in Islamist strikes in recent years.
According to authorities, Benin forces were heavily wounded in an attack close to the border with Burkina Faso and Niger, both of which are engulfed in insurgency.
One of Benin’s best-equipped military bases was struck in the north on Wednesday night, according to Colonel Faizou Gomina, chief of staff for the national guard.
Col. Gomina went on, “We’ve been dealt a very hard blow,”
Although the identity of the perpetrator is yet unknown, terrorist organizations from nearby nations have been held accountable for a rise in attacks in the country’s north in recent years.
A diplomatic source informed the AFP news agency that between 2021 and December 2024, more than 120 Beninese military officers were assassinated.
Three soldiers were killed and four others were injured by gunmen last month while they were manning an oil pipeline in the northeast.
The Democrats, the main opposition party, reported that over 30 soldiers had been killed in the Alibori district, according to the Reuters news agency, although Col. Gomina did not release a death toll for the attack on Wednesday.
According to AFP, a security source reported that 28 people had died.
“The cleanup efforts are still ongoing. So far, forty attackers have been eliminated,” the military source continued.
Col. Gomina urged on military leaders to enhance their operational techniques to combat security threats, stating that the attacked position was “one of the strongest and most militarized.”
“Wake up, officers and section chiefs, we have battles to win,” he declared.
Benin sent out about 3,000 troops in 2022 to strengthen northern security and stop cross-border intrusions.
