Al Qaeda-linked militant group claims deadly Benin attack

Cotonou: An Al Qaeda linked militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for an attack in northern Benin near the borders with Burkina Faso and Nig...

Cotonou: An Al Qaeda-linked militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for an attack in northern Benin near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger that killed at least 28 troops this week.

The raid, which was the deadliest the Beninese army has suffered in years, took place late Wednesday in the border area between Benin and its insurgency-hit neighbours.

Attacks in northern Benin have increased in recent years with authorities accusing the Islamic State and Al Qaeda groups based in neighbouring countries, including the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

"Our brothers the mujahideen were able to storm a Beninese army post in Oouda in Karimama province," the JNIM said in a statement cited and translated by the US group Site Intelligence.

The jihadist group, which operates in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, claimed a death toll of more than 30 and said it had seized weapons, ammunition and a drone, according to the statement cited by Site Intelligence.