Jihadist attack in Benin kills at least 54, government says

The blown jihadists killed 54 troops in an attack last week in military posts in a Benin National Park, the Government said on Wednesday, April 23.

Government spokesman Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji gave the new toll to a press conference on April 17 at National Park W in northern Benin, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. The authorities had previously said that eight soldiers were killed.

This is the most heavy official toll since the beginning of jihadist attacks in the north. The group claimed the group for the support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM or JNIM in Arabic) that is affiliated with Al Qaeda. He had said that 70 Beninian soldiers were killed.

“Even if it is not 70 … it is a lot,” said the government spokesman. “The soldiers who have fallen are our children, our parents, our friends.”

The country deployed almost 3,000 soldiers to ensure its borders in January 2022. He later sent an addition to reinforce security in the north.

Twenty -eight soldiers from Benin were killed near the border between Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso in January in an attack also claimed by the GSIM.