Gunmen Attack Niger Baptism Ceremony, Kill 22 Villagers

Gunmen on motorbikes opened fire on villagers in western Niger, killing 22 people, most of whom were attending a baptism ceremony, according to local media and other sources on Tuesday.

The attack occurred on Monday in the Tillaberi region, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) remain active.

A local resident told AFP that the attackers first struck at the baptism ceremony before moving to nearby areas to continue the killings. The resident requested anonymity for security reasons.

Elmaestro TV described the assault as a “gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people cowardly killed without reason or justification.”

Human rights campaigner Maikoul Zodi lamented on social media: “Once again, the Tillaberi region has been struck by barbarism, plunging innocent families into mourning and despair.”

Niger’s military leaders, who seized power two years ago in a coup, have struggled to contain jihadist groups in the Tillaberi region despite maintaining a significant army presence.

• Around 20 soldiers were killed in Tillaberi last week.
• Human Rights Watch has called on Niger authorities to “do more to protect civilians”.
• The group estimates that IS has summarily executed over 127 villagers and worshippers in Tillaberi across five separate attacks since March 2025.

Meanwhile, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reports that approximately 1,800 people have been killed in attacks across Niger since October 2024, with three-quarters of fatalities concentrated in Tillaberi.

Niger and its neighbours, Burkina Faso and Mali, are also ruled by military coup leaders claiming a sovereignist policy. These countries have expelled French and American forces previously deployed to combat jihadist insurgencies.

The recent massacre underscores the persistent security challenges facing the Sahel region, highlighting the vulnerability of civilians in areas where jihadist groups operate with impunity.

The attack has sparked renewed calls for enhanced civilian protection and regional cooperation to counter the ongoing jihadist threat in the Sahel.