Dagne ambush

Following widespread massacres in the first half of 2021 against non-Fulani ethnic groups and villages that support the Nigerien government or Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin by the predominantly-Fulani Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), various non-Fulani areas formed self-defense militias in Tillabéri Region and Tahoua Region to prevent future attacks by ISGS.^[1] To counter these attacks, ISGS pushed further into Tahoua Region to attack Nigerien soldiers.^[1] In March 2021, ISGS massacres against civilians in Tillia killed over 140 civilians and sparked the creation of self-defense militias in the area.^[1][2]

On November 2, 2021, three days before the Dagne ambush, ISGS militants killed over 69 militiamen and civilians at Adab-Dab, near Banibangou.^[3]

Several dozen militants on motorcycles and cars entered the town of Dagne on November 5, immediately clashing with the Nigerien troops stationed just outside the town.^[4] The soldiers had been deployed around Dagne after the Adab-Dab attack to protect civilians in the area.^[5] Nigerien officials said that the attack was repulsed, and that eleven soldiers had been killed, nine were missing, and one was injured.^[6] International Crisis Group later reported that 14 soldiers had been killed in the attack.^[7] Nigerien officials said that the ISGS militants had suffered casualties as well, and retreated with the bodies of their dead and wounded.^[5]