ECOWAS denounces in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks by the Boko Haram sect in Gueskerou area of Diffa Province, South East, Niger Republic, in which about 38 lives, mainly women and children were lost on June 17, 2015. ECOWAS also notes with utter poignancy that the attacks left several wounded and also set fire to more than 100 homes in this latest raid.

ECOWAS extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of the Republic of Niger, while praying for the quick recovery of the wounded. In the same vein, ECOWAS commends the efforts by Niger’s security forces to capture and neutralise the terrorist.

While strongly condemning the growing spate of atrocious attacks of the Boko Haram Sect within the Lake Chad region in recent times, ECOWAS reiterates its support to the efforts of by the Nigerien government, the Lake Chad Basin Member States in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and all other stakeholders to combat violent extremism and prevent new attacks that could further threaten our collective peace and security in the continent.