At least 22 people have been killed in western Niger after armed men on motorbikes attacked villages in the Tillabéri region on Wednesday.
According to residents quoted by the French press agency AFP, the attackers opened fire on people gathered for a baptism ceremony, killing 15 on the spot. As they left the scene, they shot and killed seven more civilians nearby.
Niger’s authorities confirmed that an attack took place but did not release official casualty figures. Witnesses, however, described a massacre that left the community in shock.
The Tillabéri region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, has become one of the most unstable areas in West Africa. Armed groups linked to jihadist movements operate freely across the porous borders, carrying out deadly raids on civilians and security forces.
Just last week, the Nigerien army lost around 20 soldiers in at least two separate attacks in the same region. The wave of violence has raised fears that state control is weakening further, even as the military government in Niamey has promised to restore security.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently issued a report warning that civilians in Tillabéri remain extremely vulnerable. The rights group urged Niger’s authorities to step up protection for residents and strengthen security measures in rural areas.
For villagers in Tillabéri, the latest killings underline a grim reality. Despite military operations and regional security initiatives, attacks by armed groups continue to threaten daily life, targeting not only soldiers but also families gathering for ceremonies, farmers in their fields, and traders on the road.
