Niger: Unidentified gunmen kill 37 people in village outside of Bani Bangou, Tillaberi Region, Aug. 16

Event

Unidentified gunmen reportedly killed at least 37 people in the village of Darey-Daye near Bani Bangou, Tillaberi Region, Aug. 16. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The raid underscores the pervasive insecurity in much of Niger, including near the Malian border.

Bani Bangou is located around 180 km (112 miles) north of Niamey, the capital of Niger, and 32 km (20 miles) south of the Malian border.

Context

Militants have killed dozens of people during recent attacks near Bani Bangou in late July and August. While armed bandits and militants usually operate across southern Niger, notably around the Lake Chad region and the so-called tri-border area (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali), northern Niger is usually less prone to such incidents. Similar attacks have nonetheless occurred in the past, including in recent days, and have been attributed to armed bandits, smugglers, or militant Islamist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State.