Local sources in western Niger reported that armed attackers killed 25 members of a self-defence militia near Mali’s border.
A former mayor in the Anzourou commune confirmed the toll to AFP, a figure verified by a local civil association.
Three other militia fighters were wounded and rushed to hospitals in Tillaberi town and the capital, Niamey, officials said.
The Tillaberi region is a known operational zone for armed groups, intensifying local insecurity and civilian vulnerability.
According to conflict-monitoring NGO ACLED, Tillaberi became the deadliest part of the central Sahel in 2025, recording over 1,200 deaths.
The NGO attributed the violence mainly to extremist groups, followed by Nigerien forces and the JNIM-affiliated militants.
Victims came from four neighbouring villages: Doukou Makani, Doukou Djinde, Doukou Saraou, and Doukou Koirategui, local sources reported.
Anzourou district comprises about 50 villages and hamlets near the Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali border, long targeted by armed attacks.
Niger has been governed by a military junta since a coup in July 2023, amid ongoing regional instability.
Over the past decade, attacks have repeatedly devastated Niger, causing nearly 2,000 deaths since the start of this year.
The Nigerien army, struggling to contain the violence, has permitted villagers to form self-defence militias, sometimes triggering bloody confrontations.
In December, the military regime announced a “general mobilisation,” requisitioning people and resources to bolster security operations.
Niger has also joined a 6,000-strong joint force with Mali and Burkina Faso, both military-led nations facing similar armed threats.