At least fifteen civilians have been killed in a series of attacks targeting villages in western Niger, the country’s military announced late Wednesday.
The assaults, described as “heinous acts of violence” against defenseless civilians, took place in the Mehana area, near the border with Burkina Faso.
The Tillaberi region, where the attacks occurred, has emerged as a hotbed for terrorist groups affiliated with both Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.
Civilians in the area have faced increasing threats, with the attacks leading to widespread displacement.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, a civilian was killed and three others wounded in a clash between army forces and terrorists near the town of Chatoumane, also in Tillaberi.
The military claimed to have neutralized several attackers during the confrontation.
Niger has been grappling with a mounting security crisis, which was cited by the military junta that seized power in a July coup as justification for the takeover.
The country is also battling insurgency in its southeastern region, bordering Nigeria, where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province are active.
The escalating violence has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis.
According to conflict monitoring group ACLED, nearly 1,500 civilians and soldiers have been killed by terrorists in Niger over the past year, a sharp increase from the previous year.