Islamic extremists killed at least 54 soldiers in northern Benin last week, the country’s government said.
The attack took place at the Northeast Ariboli Bureau of West African countries adjacent to Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria.
Benin’s government originally said eight soldiers were killed in last Thursday’s attack, but on Wednesday it significantly corrected the deaths.
Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam Wal Islimeen (JNIM), a Mali-based terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda, said it was behind the killing.
According to the Site Intelligence Group, it claimed it killed 70 soldiers.
Benin has seen an increase in terrorist activity in recent years, with extremist groups operating in the Sahel region launching more cross-border attacks.
The W-Arly-Pendjari complex, a border area between Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, is particularly affected by the violence.
Speaking about the latest attacks, Benin government spokesman Wilfriedrendre Hounbezi said that neighbouring countries need to do more to combat the threat posed by jihadists.
“The point where these attacks were made on April 17 is at the border, so if there was a force like us on the other side of the border, we can understand that these attacks will not happen like this or not,” he said.
“The fallen soldiers are our children, our parents, our friends.”
Junim also claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 28 Beninese soldiers in early January.
