Niger: Militant attack kills at least 30 people in Tillaberi Region March 15

Event

Suspected militants attacked and killed at least 30 people near Banibangou in Niger's Tillaberi Region, March 15. While details of the incident are as yet unconfirmed, initial reporting suggests that the attackers stopped the victims as they were traveling along the RN24 motorway while returning from a weekly market. The assailants reportedly shot the travelers before torching their vehicles.

Context

The attack underscores the pervasive insecurity across much of Niger, including the Tillaberi region. Efforts by security officials to curtail expanding violent militancy have largely failed in recent years. Militants are known to attack foreign and local security forces and civilians. A December 2020 attack on a military base in Chinagoder near Banibangou reportedly killed at least 100 soldiers.