President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo has confirmed the killing of over 100 civilians and 40 soldiers by jihadist terrorists in what he described as a war situation in northern Togo.
In an interview with Togolese private station, New World TV, on Thursday, President Gnassingbe said the country had been facing threats from the jihadists who had spilled into the country from neighboring
West African nations like Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana and Ivory Coast.
The interview, which is first since taking over from his father in 2005, is part of events to mark the country’s 63rd anniversary of its independence from France.
“We have paid a heavy price, especially our defence and security forces, who have lost around 40 men unfortunately, and then we add civilian victims, a hundred or so civilian victims in the country,” the president said.
“What is happening to us is a form of aggression by two groups; one is called the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and the other, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims.
“This campaign by two terrorist organisations is a form of war,” said Gnassingbe.
The President also warned the Togolese people to expect a long fight with dramatic moments, which is is inevitable in times of war, with the assurance that in the end, the country will win the war against the terrorists.
“But I want to assure my countrymen that in the end, we will win,” he assured.
“In addition to military operations, the government had set up an interministerial committee for the prevention and fight against violent extremism.
“The aim is to try and deradicalise or prevent radicalisation, because it is men, young people, who are being used to conduct these attacks,” he added.