Niamey, Niger September 17, 2025: At least 22 villagers were killed when armed men on motorbikes attacked a baptism ceremony in western Niger Republic, local media and security sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The assault took place Monday in Takoubatt village. located in the volatile Tillaberi region near the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali an area plagued by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS).
According to a local resident, 15 people were gunned down during the baptism, while seven others were killed on the outskirts of the village. Nigerien human rights activist Maikoul Zodi condemned the killings, writing on social media:
“Once again, the Tillaberi region has been struck by barbarism, plunging innocent families into mourning and despair.”
The attack follows the killing of around 20 soldiers in Tillaberi last week, underscoring the deepening insecurity despite the ruling junta’s heavy military deployments since its 2023 coup.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the authorities to strengthen civilian protection, noting that IS-linked militants have executed more than 127 villagers and worshippers in at least five attacks across Tillaberi since March.
Data from the conflict monitoring group ACLED shows that nearly 1,800 people have been killed in Niger since October 2024, with three-quarters of the fatalities occurring in Tillaberi.
Niger, along with neighboring military-led Burkina Faso and Mali, has also expelled French and American forces that previously assisted in combating jihadist insurgencies.
Source:Local media reports, security sources, Human Rights Watch, ACLED.