Niger’s military says it has killed Boko Haram commander Ibrahim Bakoura in air raids on Diffa strongholds.
The strikes also destroyed supply lines and eliminated other fighters, though confirmation is pending.
The Government of Niger Republic has announced that its armed forces killed a senior Boko Haram commander, Ibrahim Bakoura, also known as Abu Oumaima, during a recent counterterrorism operation in the Diffa region.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN) said the operation was carried out on August 15 through coordinated air raids targeting Boko Haram strongholds in Korongol, Kournawa, and Shilawa. According to the military, the strikes wiped out dozens of fighters, destroyed supply lines, and eliminated several senior leaders, including Bakoura, described as a key figure in the group’s command structure.
Authorities in Niamey hailed the operation as proof of Niger’s determination to defend its sovereignty and protect its territory from terrorist incursions. General Abdurahamane Tiani, Niger’s Head of State, had previously identified Bakoura as one of the individuals allegedly involved in efforts to destabilize the country.
However, independent confirmation of his death has not been obtained. Security analyst Zagazola Makama noted that while the report could not yet be verified, Bakoura’s elimination, if true, would represent a significant milestone for counterinsurgency campaigns in the Sahel.
Bakoura has long been linked to Jama’at Ahl al-Sunna li al-Da’wa wa al-Jihad (Boko Haram), and analysts say his reported killing would deliver both a symbolic and operational setback to the insurgents across the Lake Chad Basin.
Although Niger recently withdrew from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), it continues to cooperate with Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon through bilateral security arrangements, underscoring its role as a frontline state in the regional fight against terrorism.
