Benin: Govt. reassures citizens of adequate security after armed attacks in northern region
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The Beninese government has reassured the population of adequate security and announced new security measures following the repeated attacks in the north of the country, according to a communiqué from the council of ministers.
"The government wishes to reassure all our people that the points held by our army have remained impassable and that our strategy will soon secure the critical areas to ensure peace and security throughout the national territory.
It therefore invites the citizens to go about their normal businesses," said a statement from the council held following the death of eight people in an ambush on Tuesday.
The Beninese president, Patrice Talon, seized the opportunity to affirm his conviction that all lives are important, including those of those who have sworn to defend the country with their lives if necessary.
He urged the government to put in place special measures to support the families of victims of attacks, the statement said, adding that the government has renewed its confidence in the Defence and Security Forces.
For some days now, the portion of land known as the "Triple Point", a border zone shared by Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger has been considered critical due to the terrorist actions observed.
This area, which has not yet been the subject of joint action by the three countries concerned, is also a den for poachers.
Last Tuesday, a patrol of African Parks Network (APN) rangers came across an improvised explosive device, as did a second patrol in the same circumstances, killing eight people (one APN civilian, five rangers and their French instructor, one Beninese armed forces officer) and injuring 12.
Two days later, a reconnaissance patrol team suffered the same fate with a civilian victim, an APN agent, bringing the number of devices exploded by homemade mines to three.
The government has since paid tribute to the memory of the missing persons and expressed its support for the injured, all of whom have already been treated.
The government reassures that its strategy to guarantee security throughout the national territory is on course and will be intensified with the forthcoming receipt of the new state-of-the-art equipment ordered.
Benin has made available to its armed forces significant financial resources not only to equip them, but also to recruit and train personnel.
In view of the nature of the events in question, the said strategy, which is already being deployed, will be accelerated, the Beninese authorities reassured.
-0- PANA IT/IS/BBA/VAO 13Feb2022
