The head of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has condemned a deadly attack on a police station in Benin, which claimed the lives of several members of the security forces. The incident is reported to have taken place on October 5, near the country’s border with neighboring Nigeria.

Youssouf said the attack underscores the need for a “collective and coordinated engagement” to confront the growing threat of violent extremism and transnational crime. It comes less than month after another police post was attacked in the same area, raising concern about security in the area.

Benin has been regarded as one of Africa’s stable democracies. The country has, however, witnessed in surge in militant acttacks in the north.