At least 22 people have been killed by gunmen riding motorbikes during a baptism ceremony in western Niger Republic, authorities and local residents confirmed.
The attack took place on Monday in Takoubatt village, Tillaberi region, a volatile area bordering Mali and Burkina Faso that has long been plagued by jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS).
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately on villagers gathered for the baptism before moving to the outskirts of the community, where they killed additional residents.
“At least 15 people were killed at the baptism, and seven more were shot nearby,” one resident told local media, requesting anonymity.
Human rights campaigner Maikoul Zodi condemned the killings as “barbarism,” warning that the repeated attacks were plunging families in Niger into mourning and despair.
The Tillaberi region has suffered frequent assaults by militants in recent years, despite ongoing military operations and regional security collaborations. Armed groups operating in the tri-border area have targeted villages, schools, religious gatherings, and security forces, fueling a humanitarian crisis that has displaced thousands.
Monday’s massacre underscores the persistent insecurity facing Niger following last year’s coup, which has further strained cooperation with Western allies. Calls are growing for greater protection of civilians as violence in the Sahel shows little sign of abating.
