NIGER REPUBLIC: Prison Break as Jihadist Inmates Escape Heavily Fortified Niger Jail

BY: CHIOMA MADONNA NDUKWU

Authorities in Niger have declared a curfew in the volatile Tillaberi region after several prisoners escaped from Koutoukale prison, a heavily fortified jail known to hold jihadists.

The jailbreak, which occurred on Thursday, marks the third escape attempt at the facility, following repelled attempts in 2016 and 2019. The exact number of escaped prisoners remains unspecified, but they are believed to include captured Islamist fighters linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

In response, officials have imposed an overnight curfew and ordered heightened vigilance across the region. This incident adds to the ongoing strain on Niger’s armed forces, already stretched by jihadist attacks and the need to protect the junta in power since last year’s coup.

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Chioma Ndukwu

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