Gunmen attacked Niger’s largest airport early Thursday, marking the second assault on the strategically important facility in less than five months.
Residents reported hearing explosions and sustained gunfire shortly after morning prayers near Diori Hamani International Airport in the capital, Niamey. The airport serves both civilian flights and military operations.
At least four security personnel were killed along with several attackers, Reuters reported, citing a Nigerien security source. Multiple suspects were also reportedly detained.
No group has claimed responsibility, while Niger’s military-led government has yet to issue an official statement.
Lawalli Tsalha, who lives near the airport, told the BBC that residents initially mistook the first explosion for a bursting tyre before realising an attack was underway.
The fighting had largely subsided by mid-morning, but security forces continued searching for the assailants. The area remained under lockdown as officers inspected vehicles entering and leaving the vicinity.
Some armed residents joined the search, carrying machetes and sticks, although security personnel reportedly attempted to prevent civilians from becoming involved.
One resident said the attackers had blended into the surrounding population, complicating efforts to identify and capture them.
Diori Hamani International Airport is among Niger’s most sensitive installations. In addition to its civilian terminals and military base, it hosts facilities connected to the Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
All three countries are governed by military authorities that seized power amid mounting public anger over insecurity and the failure to contain armed groups operating across the Sahel.
An organisation affiliated with Daesh claimed responsibility for an attack on the same airport in January. Niger’s Defence Ministry said four military personnel were wounded and 20 attackers killed during that assault.
Following the January attack, military leader Abdourahamane Tiani thanked Russia for helping repel the assault. He also accused France, Benin and Ivory Coast of supporting those responsible but provided no evidence.
Nigerien authorities have recently intensified security around the airport, demolishing nearby neighbourhoods over what they described as terrorism concerns. The airport’s perimeter fence has also been extended, while more than 350 surveillance cameras have been installed, according to AFP.
Niger has battled armed groups affiliated with Daesh and Al Qaeda for around a decade, particularly in areas close to its borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.