The group expanded that same year into northern Burkina Faso and western Niger through negotiations with locals and JNIM commander Iyad Ag Ghaly, along with the growing presence of Amadou Koufa and his Fulani-dominated jihadist group Katiba Macina.

[2] At 11 a.m. on July 31, Nigerien soldiers in Torodi, Say Department, Tillabéri Region were ambushed while they were carrying out a supply mission to Boni, along the tri-border area between Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

[3] The soldiers attempted to evacuate the wounded from the ambush, but hit an IED.

[3] Nigerien forces began patrolling the area on August 1, launching combing operations to find the jihadists.

[4][5] The Nigerien Ministry of Defense initially stated 15 soldiers were killed, seven injured, and six missing, although this toll was revised to 18 soldiers and one civilian killed and seven injured.