On May 1, 2021, at least sixteen Nigerien soldiers were killed in an ambush in Intoussan, Tillabéri Region, Niger by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.

[1] 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.

Miko stated that sixteen Nigerien soldiers had been ambushed in Tillia, and that six others were wounded and one was missing.

[3][4] International Crisis Group later reported that the attack took place at a Nigerien outpost in Intoussan, Banibangou Department, located in Tillabéri Region.

[5] The ISGS fighters were heavily armed and ambushed the patrol aboard motorcycles, sparking clashes with the soldiers.