A migrant worker from Jharkhand has been confirmed dead following a terror attack in Niger, West Africa. Ganesh Karmali, a 39-year-old from Bokaro district, was among six people killed in the incident that occurred on July 15th. All six victims were employed as security personnel by Transrail Lighting Ltd.

The attack took place in the Dosso region of southwestern Niger, approximately 100 kilometers from the capital city of Niamey. According to local sources, the assailants ambushed a Nigerien army unit providing security at a construction site for an electrical line. The Indian Embassy in Niamey has described the event as a "terrorist" attack.

In addition to the fatalities, one Indian national working for the same electrical company was abducted during the attack, and another remains "unaccounted for," according to the Indian Embassy. Local sources also reported that at least one Nigerien soldier was killed. As of Friday, authorities had not yet commented on the attack.

The Indian Embassy has issued a warning to all Indian nationals in Niger, urging them to remain vigilant. The embassy is working closely with the employer, the families of the affected individuals, and the Nigerien government to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased's remains and to secure the safe release of the kidnapped individual.

Niger has been under military rule since a 2023 coup and has faced ongoing violence from jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group for about a decade. The Dosso region, where the attack occurred, borders both Nigeria and Benin, and has seen frequent attacks targeting civilians, the army, and a major oil pipeline that transports crude oil from Niger to Benin. Authorities typically attribute these attacks to "terrorists" or "bandits". Dosso is near Tillaberi, close to the borders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, an area known to be a stronghold for jihadist groups.

This is not an isolated incident. In late April 2025, five Indian technicians were kidnapped north of Sakoira, resulting in the deaths of twelve Nigerien soldiers. Earlier in July, three Indian nationals working in Mali were abducted from a cement factory.

The recent attack has prompted concern and action from the government of Jharkhand, the home state of the deceased and missing workers. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has reached out to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for assistance in ensuring the safety and return of the affected individuals.

The repeated targeting of Indian workers in the region highlights the increasing dangers faced by migrant laborers in conflict zones. The Indian government and its embassy in Niger are under pressure to provide support and security for its citizens working abroad, as well as to address the broader issue of terrorism and instability in the Sahel region.