Massacre in Niger: armed men murder 22 people during a baptism

Men armed in motorcycles They murdered at least 22 people who participated in a baptism ceremony during an attack on an village in western Niger, Western Africa country.

Various media They reported That the attack occurred on Monday, September 15 in the Tillaberi region, near Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State operate.

According to a report of the BBC On Wednesday, September 17, a resident declared the French Agency AFP that the attackers killed 15 people at the Baptism Ceremony in the Tillaberi region, which borders Burkina Faso and Mali, before continuing and killing another seven.

“While people celebrated a baptism ceremony, armed men opened fire, sowing death and terror,” said local civil rights activist Maikoul Zodi in a Facebook publication on Tuesday, September 16.

Zodi said: “Once again, the Tillaberi region, in the department of Ouallam, Aldea de Takoubatt, has been beaten by barbarism, plunging innocent families in pain and desolation. While the villagers gathered to celebrate a baptism, armed men opened fire, sowing death and terror.”

He added: “As an actor of civil society, I lean to the memory of the victims and express all my solidarity with the linked families and with the Takoubatt community.”

The activist questioned why civilians remain exposed to so much insecurity and urged the government to prioritize the security and dignity of citizens.

“The security and dignity of citizens must be an absolute priority,” he said, adding: “It is time to give concrete answers, to strengthen the presence of the State in vulnerable areas and to demonstrate that each nigerine life matters.”

The Niger authorities recognized the attack in the area, but they have not yet published official victims figures.

Jihadist violence in Niger continues to climb, with human rights organizations and local voices denouncing the failure of the authorities to protect civilians, more than a year after the military took power, according to the BBC report of September 17.

The report also notes that the growing insecurity was evidenced again on September 10, when 14 Niger soldiers were killed in an ambush in the Tillaberi region.

In its weekly bulletin, the army reported that the troops had been deployed after denunciations of cattle theft, but ended up trapped in what they described as “an ambush.”

Victims figures are difficult to verify independently due to restricted access to conflict zones and the fear of reprisals among witnesses.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) He has denounced that since March armed groups have intensified their attacks, killing at least 127 Muslim villagers and faithful; In addition, homes have been looted and burned.

The organization accused Niger authorities of ignoring the aid orders for villagers and not responding to repeated warnings of imminent attacks.

Niger has been under military control since General Abdourahmane Tchiani overthrew the president -elect Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, promising to restore security. However, violence has continued.

A recently formed prodemocracy coalition in Niger denounced what he described as the failure of military authorities in power to face the growing insecurity, after the mortal attacks on September 10.

The coalition, called Cadre de Lutte Contre Les Dérives Du Niger (CDN) – forms to combat abuses in Niger – was officially launched on September 12 and brings together civil society leaders, journalists, jurists and investigators committed to resisting the current regime.

In his First pronouncementThe group demanded the organization of free and transparent elections, the restitution of the political parties and unions dissolved by the Board, as well as the release of the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and all other political prisoners.

Translated and adapted by ACI Press. Originally published in ACO Africa.