No fewer than 31 civilians have been killed in a fresh armed attack on a community in western Niger, close to the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, local sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The assault occurred on Sunday in Bosiye village, located in the Tillaberi region, a volatile area within the tri-border zone where Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali meet and where armed groups have remained active for years.
Residents said the attackers stormed the village and opened fire, leaving dozens dead and several others injured.
A community member told AFP that 30 people were killed instantly, while one of the injured victims later died while receiving treatment at a health facility.
A local students’ union also confirmed the casualty figure in a statement, describing the incident as a “barbaric and condemnable attack” that has plunged the community into mourning.
The Tillaberi region has witnessed repeated violence linked to armed groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have continued to target civilians and security forces in the area for nearly a decade.
The latest attack comes months after the mayor of Gorouol, the local government area where Bosiye is situated, was killed in an ambush in September. The mayor had been appointed by Niger’s military-led authorities.