2021 Diffa raid

The city of Diffa, capital of Niger's Diffa Region and located along the Niger river that makes up the Niger-Nigerian border, has been attacked several times since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2015.^[1] In May 2020, clashes broke out along the Doutchi Bridge in Doutchi, which links Niger to Nigeria.^[1] Diffa had a pre-war population of 200,000 people, but since the insurgency began 300,000 refugees have fled to the city.^[2]

On May 22, unknown bandits ambushed a Nigerien security post along the RN1 highway between Mainé-Soroa and Diffa, killing one policeman and kidnapping another.^[3]

The attack began between 3pm and 4pm on May 29, with the Boko Haram fighters originating from the village of Bagara south of Diffa.^[4] The jihadists' invasion was halted by Nigerien FDS located between Bagara and Diffa, sparking battles.^[5] The Boko Haram fighters conducted the attack with fifteen to twenty vehicles.^[4][5] While the attack was repelled by the Nigerien forces, thousands of panicked civilians fled the area in anticipation of more attacks.^[5]

Nigerien forces later reported that four FDS soldiers were killed and nine were injured, and that four civilians were killed and five were injured.^[6] Nigerien forces reported that at least six militants were killed in the attack, and officials released a photoset of captured vehicles and weaponry.^[7][4][6]