Five Indian nationals were abducted during a recent armed attack in western Niger that also claimed the lives of 12 soldiers, according to Nigerian security sources and a statement by Indian authorities. The incident occurred near the village of Sakoira in the Tillaberi region, within the volatile tri-border area shared by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
The kidnapped individuals were employed by an Indian company involved in the Kandadji dam project, a major infrastructure initiative in Niger. All five victims are from the Indian state of Jharkhand. The state government confirmed their identities and said the Indian embassy in Niger is coordinating with local authorities to secure their release.
Though no group has claimed responsibility, previous attacks in the area have been attributed to the ISIS in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), including a deadly assault on a mosque in April that left 44 civilians dead.
The region continues to grapple with a prolonged rebel insurgency. This year has seen a spike in kidnappings, including the abductions of an Austrian woman in January and a Swiss citizen in April. Four Moroccan truck drivers also disappeared earlier this year on the Niger-Burkina Faso border.