Sixteen civilians were killed in western Niger on Friday when armed attackers ambushed a convoy of trucks near the Malian border.
The assault occurred in the Banibangou district of Tillaberi, a region known for activity by Islamic State in the Sahel and the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
Five trucks carrying passengers and goods were stopped in a remote desert area. Attackers executed 16 men, sparing the women, before stealing three loaded vehicles and setting another ablaze.
The convoy had departed from the capital, Niamey, en route to the weekly market in Tizigorou. Among the victims were several wealthy local traders.
The attack shatters months of relative calm in Banibangou. Militant groups had previously carried out deadly assaults on civilians between 2021 and 2023.
Niger’s military junta, in power since the July 2023 coup, has struggled to contain militant threats despite heavy troop deployments across Tillaberi. On Friday, authorities announced plans to form civilian auxiliaries to support the army. Junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani recently asserted that security forces now control the ground.
The ambush highlights the persistent instability gripping the Sahel, leaving communities in fear and uncertainty.