At least 22 people have been killed in a fresh wave of violence in western Niger after gunmen on motorbikes stormed a village in Tillabéri region, opening fire on civilians, many of whom were attending a baptism ceremony. Witnesses told AFP that 15 people were massacred during the ceremony before the attackers moved on to kill seven more nearby.
Civil rights activist Maikoul Zodi described the incident as “death and terror” unleashed on innocent villagers, while local outlet Elmaestro TV called it a “gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people cowardly killed without reason or justification.”
Niger’s military authorities confirmed an attack but have yet to release official casualty figures. The country has seen escalating violence in recent months from jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. According to Human Rights Watch, such groups have summarily executed more than 127 villagers and Muslim worshippers since March, alongside looting and torching homes.
The Tillabéri region has been at the centre of the crisis. Just last week, 14 soldiers were killed in an ambush while responding to reports of cattle theft. The army admitted the mission turned into a deadly trap.
Activists and locals are now demanding stronger protection. “It is time for concrete answers, strengthen state presence in vulnerable areas, and show that every Nigerien life matters,” Zodi posted on Facebook.
Since the 2023 coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s military rulers—like their counterparts in Mali and Burkina Faso—have expelled French and US forces, instead forming new security ties with Russia and Turkey. Yet, despite the alliance, jihadist attacks across the Sahel have continued unabated, leaving citizens trapped in cycles of violence and fear.
