At least 24 civilians were killed on Tuesday morning in a series of coordinated attacks by suspected Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) militants across multiple villages in Kokorou canton, located in the Téra Department of Niger’s Tillabéri region.
According to local sources, the attacks occurred in the early hours of May 13, targeting six villages: Fambita, Zanay, a Tuareg camp, Mariyeyzé, Bourbangou, and Dirokooré. The provisional casualty figures are as follows:
Fambita: 8 killed, Zanay: 4 killed, Tuareg camp: 3 killed, Mariyeyzé: 5 killed, Bourbangou: 2 killed and Dirokooré: 2 killed
The assailants, reportedly heavily armed, launched simultaneous raids on these villages, shooting indiscriminately at residents and forcing residents to scamper for safety.
The Tillabéri region, in particular, has been a hotspot for such attacks, with civilians often bearing the brunt.
The Nigerien government has previously declared periods of national mourning following similar attacks, such as the March 21 assault on Fambita village, which resulted in 44 civilian deaths and 13 injuries during Friday prayers .