₦airaland Forum

Gunmen on motorbikes have shot dead 22 people, most of them attending a baptism ceremony, in an attack on a village in western Niger, reports say.

A resident told the French news agency AFP that 15 people were killed at the ceremony in Tillabéri region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, before moving elsewhere and killing seven others.

"While people celebrated a baptism ceremony, gunmen opened fire, sowing death and terror," local civil rights activist Maikoul Zodi said on social media.

Niger's military government has struggled to contain jihadist violence in the region, carried out by groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

The AFP news agency also cited local media outlet Elmaestro TV as reporting a "gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people cowardly killed without reason or justification".

Niger's authorities have confirmed there was an attack in the area but have not given any casualty figures.

Last week, Human Rights Watch said jihadist groups had increased attacks in the country since March, summarily killing over 127 villagers and Muslim worshippers.

Dozens of homes have been looted and burned over the same period, it said.

The group blamed authorities for not adequately responding to warnings of attacks and ignoring calls for help by villagers.

Last Wednesday, 14 Nigerien soldiers were killed in an ambush in the Tillabéri region, a figure that the army announced in its weekly bulletin on Saturday.

The army said one of its units was deployed following reports of a cattle theft by armed men, but the operation turned out to be "an ambush".

It is often difficult to independently verify the real numbers of casualties in such attacks due to access restrictions and the fear of reprisals among witnesses and local media.

On Tuesday, Mr Zodi questioned why civilians were still being exposed to such insecurity, and urged the government to prioritise the safety and dignity of citizens.

"It is time for concrete answers, strengthen state presence in vulnerable areas, and show that every Nigerien life matters," he posted on Facebook.

Niger has been under military control since 2023 when Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani deposed the country's elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.

Its neighbours Burkina Faso and Mali, battling the same jihadist insurgency, are also ruled by military leaders but have similarly struggled to contain the problem.

The three have expelled French and US forces that were previously heavily involved in the fight against jihadists that operate across the Sahel region.

Besides scaling back their ties with the West, they have since formed an alliance to fight the jihadist threat, turning to Russia and Turkey for their security needs.

However, the violence has continued.

https://www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce863x3g7jko.amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17581095768034&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fce863x3g7jko

Make peace with them , they are the untouchable children of the government .

This happened in nigér not niger state in Nigeria.

That doesn't mean it's right tho. Muslims should learn to live with other people.

We all cannot be Muslims.

Na wa ooooo, so una no fit secure life… e go soon reach when people go take law for their hand.

until you feel it, this government is the best thing after slice bread

Nigeria is a useless country.
it seems like we are on our own in this useless country.

I think Boko boys were created by Buhari to pursue Jonathan. Why are they striking in Niger, Chad, Cameroon and others? Abí make we no ask our Amaka brothers?

BlackViper:
https://www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce863x3g7jko.amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17581095768034&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fce863x3g7jko

The people of the Religion of Peace doing the work of the Al-Makr so well.


SMH?

72 virgins waiting for the Muhadijins!

LagosOrigin:
Make peace with them , they are the untouchable children of APC government .

I am not sure you went to school. Is APC a party in Niger Republic?

Reach to Israel 🇮🇱
They are only the antidote against terror in Islam
Reach out to Israel and let mossad take care of the rest.
Unless you do not really want this barbarism to end .
How can a country lose 22 people in one day when not in a war zone?
How many Ukraine and Gaza people , wey dey in war zone dey die like this ?
Ha

Fourtygees:
Nigeria is a useless country.
it seems like we are on our own in this useless country.

The incident actually took place in Niger not Nigeria

Wetin concern APC with this?
U just read the caption and rushed straight to comment. See your life ba? 🤣

It happened in Niger (country)

LagosOrigin:
Make peace with them , they are the untouchable children of APC government .

May God accept their souls...

May their spirits rest in paradise.
May their loved ones be consoled......

These terrorists are being driven out of Nigeria back to their country of origin, Niger! Most of these bandits aren't Nigerians.

Any group that shout God is great when committing murder, be wary of them, may their souls and memories be a blessing

Isreal that's killing the terrorist is the problem because they didn't allow this activities in their country

22 goats you mean?


stop demarketing Nigeria, nobody died.

Just to spoil Tinubu government? It won't work.

Tinubu till 2031

Nigerian Christians need to be helping the Christians of the Sahel Region instead of buying themselves Airplanes

The military president of Niger Republic said the French and USA military are not needed.

Forget... The North is GONE!

There is absolutely no coming back from this insecurity, especially with the massive investment and involvement of wealthy sponsors around the world.


The only way forward for Nigeria is to split from Northern Nigeria... Let them become the full-blown Islamic nation they violently desire.

Head slammers on the best
Op always differentiate Nigerian Niger state and Republic of Niger

Fourtygees:
Nigeria is a useless country.
it seems like we are on our own in this useless country.

Happened in Niger Republic, at Tillaberi. Not in Nigeria.

Angelfrost:
Forget... The North is GONE!

There is absolutely no coming back from this insecurity, especially with the massive investment and involvement of wealthy sponsors around the world.


The only way forward for Nigeria is to split from Northern Nigeria... Let them become the full-blown Islamic nation they violently desire.

Niger republic is not part of Nigeria. That's where it happened

Fourtygees:
Nigeria is a useless country.
it seems like we are on our own in this useless country.

Did not happen in Nigeria. mamshshjkkkkahsdhaj

Moveittothem:
22 goats you mean?


stop demarketing Nigeria, nobody died.

Just to spoil Tinubu government? It won't work.

Tinubu till 2031

Tinubu is the president of Nigeria, not Niger republic, which is where it happened.

Christistruth03:
Nigerian Christians need to be helping the Christians of the Sahel Region instead of buying themselves Airplanes

LInkages exist, though they have been made difficult with the change of government in Niger.Border issues and things like that. But there are linkages.

malali:
It must be stated unambiguously that this refers to the Republic of Niger, not Niger State in Nigeria.

All the noise dragging the APC government into this is unfair and misleading, it amounts to sensationalist headlines.

We are talking about an entirely different country altogether.

Yeah, get's confusing....see Macedonia, the country, and Macedonia, the province in Greece.