At least 44 members of Niger?s Defence and Security Forces (FDS) were killed in a deadly ambush by suspected jihadist militants during a river patrol operation in the Dosso Region, the authorities said on Tuesday.

Zagazola Makama understands that the attack, which occurred on Monday, May 26 at approximately 3 p.m., targeted a military unit patrolling the River Niger, around the Falmey area, near the country?s border with Benin.

According to preliminary reports, the patrol unit, made up of 71 personnel, was ambushed by fighters believed to be linked to the Jama?at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group active in the Sahel.

Security sources said 44 personnel were confirmed dead, with several bodies still missing in the river. Among the casualties was the unit commander, who is presumed dead.

Twenty-seven soldiers were rescued, including several who sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.

The latest attack comes just two days after another deadly assault in Eknewan, where 58 FDS personnel were killed, raising concerns over the increasing frequency and intensity of militant attacks in southern Niger.

Authorities have launched a search-and-recovery operation in the Falmey area, while reinforcing security across vulnerable sectors in Dosso and surrounding regions.

The Government of Niger has yet to issue an official statement, but sources indicate that high-level security consultations are ongoing in Niamey.

The ambush marks one of the deadliest single-day losses for the Nigerien military in recent months. (Zagazola, but headline rejigged)

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