In a significant breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, the Nigerien military has apprehended a top commander of the extremist group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) in the volatile Tillabéri region.
According to security expert Zagazola Makama, the arrest was made on April 3 around 6:30 p.m. along the Torodi–Niamey route, during a routine patrol operation. The suspect was traveling in a vehicle laden with suspicious materials.
Military personnel conducted a thorough search of the vehicle, uncovering a firearm, several mobile phones, and 5,032,900 CFA francs in cash. Authorities believe the money was intended to fund logistical operations for terrorist activities in the region.
Further intelligence led troops to a garden linked to the suspect in the village of Boborgou. The site is suspected to have served as a key logistical base for JNIM-affiliated militants. Recovered from the location were food supplies, mobile phone recharge cards, clothing, and black fabric, which is thought to be used for camouflage by fighters.
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In a nearby school, troops uncovered a large stockpile of pasta, suspected to be provisions for militant operatives active in the area.
Military sources also linked the suspect to the hijacking of two vehicles on April 2 between the towns of Makalondi and Niaktiré—an incident that heightened regional security concerns.
The operation is part of an ongoing campaign by Nigerien forces to dismantle terrorist cells and restore peace and order in regions destabilized by insurgent activities.
Authorities confirm that investigations are continuing to uncover the full extent of the suspect’s network and disrupt further planned attacks.