Gunmen riding motorbikes stormed a baptism ceremony in Niger’s Tillaberi region and opened fire, leaving 22 villagers dead — www.naijnaira.com reports.
The deadly attack happened on Monday in Takoubatt, a community already struggling under frequent assaults by jihadist groups, according to Naija News.
Witnesses said fifteen victims were gunned down during the baptism before the attackers moved toward the outskirts of the village, where seven more people were executed.
“The attackers then went to the outskirts of Takoubatt where they killed seven other people,” a resident told AFP while requesting anonymity.
Local broadcaster Elmaestro TV called it a “gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people cowardly killed without reason or justification.”
Prominent activist Maikoul Zodi condemned the killings online, warning that Tillaberi has again been “struck by barbarism, plunging innocent families into mourning and despair.”
The junta in Niger, which seized power two years ago, has deployed troops across the region but violence has not slowed.
Just last week, twenty soldiers were ambushed and killed in the same area, underlining the growing insecurity.
Human Rights Watch said the Islamic State has summarily executed more than 127 civilians in Tillaberi since March and urged authorities to strengthen protection for villagers.
Conflict data from ACLED shows nearly 1,800 deaths in Niger since October 2024, with Tillaberi accounting for the majority of those casualties.
Niger, alongside its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, is currently under military rule after expelling French and American troops once stationed to help fight jihadist insurgents.
Article updated 1 day ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
