Niger: Unidentified gunmen kill 17 people in the village of Theim, Tillaberi Region, Aug. 20

Event

Unidentified gunmen reportedly killed at least 17 people and injured five others in the village of Theim, Tillaberi Region, Aug. 20. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

Militants have killed dozens of people in the Tillaberi Region in 2021. Armed bandits, smugglers, and militant Islamist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State operate across southern Niger, notably around the Lake Chad region and the so-called tri-border area (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali); they are the most likely suspects.

Advice

Consult local security partners on the viability of traveling in the affected area. Travel in convoy and during daylight hours only. Maintain contact with your diplomatic mission. Adhere to directives issued by local authorities.