Libreville, September 25, 2023 (AGP) – Since 2019, northern Benin has faced almost recurring attacks against security forces and civilians. The soldiers of Operation Mirador, deployed at the beginning of 2022 to fight against terrorists and secure the borders, recognize the loss of 25 soldiers and around forty civilians killed, against 63 terrorists neutralized, we learn from authorized official sources.
«It was the night of May 2 to 3, 2023. I was alerted by a local resident, and he made me understand that there were elements that had entered a hamlet and very quickly, we reacted. When we arrived, they had already fled and it was found that they had killed three people. I tell myself that it is, perhaps, to hurt the State or Benin. They therefore attack populations who are not even armed», According to Captain Pascal Syota, commander of the Banikoara combined arms tactical sub-group.
In Banikoara, this violence never affected the town, but traumatized the populations. “The terrorists hit Banikoara too hard. At that time, there was a village called Gimbagou, the terrorists came, they killed. And since that day, people have left Gimbagou to come to the center, here“. Madjid works in downtown Banikoara. The mechanic receives his customers outside, to repair their motorcycles, in the shade of the trees: “I used to work until 11 p.m. here. Now it’s not good… The military is raising awareness among people not to stay outside until midnight or 1 a.m.».
AL/EN/FSS
