22 Church Members Killed by Gunmen During Baptism Ceremony in Niger
- Gunmen on motorbikes killed 22 villagers in western Niger, most of them attending a baptism ceremony in the troubled Tillaberi region
- The attack marks another deadly episode in an area plagued by jihadist violence linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group
- Human rights groups have condemned the killings and urged Niger’s military rulers to step up protection for civilians
Gunmen riding motorbikes shot dead 22 villagers in western Niger Republic on Monday, most of whom were attending a baptism ceremony, according to local media reports and eyewitness accounts confirmed on Tuesday.
The attack occurred in the Tillaberi region, a volatile area bordering Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) remain active.
Source: Getty Images
The region has long been a hotspot for extremist violence, despite a significant military presence.
A local resident told AFP that the assailants first targeted a baptism ceremony in Takoubatt village, killing 15 people. “The attackers then went to the outskirts of Takoubatt, where they killed seven other people,” the source said, requesting anonymity due to security concerns.
Local broadcaster Elmaestro TV described the incident as a “gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people cowardly killed without reason or justification,” echoing widespread outrage across the country.
Human rights groups condemn Tillaberi killings
Nigerien human rights activist Maikoul Zodi condemned the killings, stating on social media: “Once again, the Tillaberi region… has been struck by barbarism, plunging innocent families into mourning and despair.”
The massacre comes just days after around 20 soldiers were reportedly killed in the same region, underscoring the persistent threat posed by jihadist factions. Niger’s military rulers, who seized power in a coup two years ago, have struggled to contain the violence despite deploying substantial forces to the area.
Human Rights Watch has called on Niger’s authorities to “do more to protect” civilians from such attacks. The organisation estimates that IS-linked militants have “summarily executed” over 127 villagers and Muslim worshippers in Tillaberi across five separate incidents since March.
Regional instability and expulsion of foreign forces
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), which monitors global conflict fatalities, reported that approximately 1,800 people have been killed in attacks across Niger since October 2024. According to ACLED, three-quarters of those deaths occurred in Tillaberi alone.
Niger, along with neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, also governed by military regimes, has expelled French and American troops previously deployed to assist in counterterrorism operations. The governments of these countries have cited a shift toward sovereignist policies as justification for the move.
Gunmen kill police inspector during attack
Legit.ng earlier reported that gunmen have killed a yet-to-be-identified police inspector during an attack on quarry workers at Ihievbe-Ogben in Owan East local government area of Edo state.
The hoodlums also injured another police officer (an orderly) and an expatriate working with the company. A source said the incident happened while the workers were going to their base camp after the day’s work on Thursday, October 17.
According to The Punch, the source said the gunmen ambushed the workers and shot them. The source further disclosed that the injured police officer and expatriate are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
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Source: Legit.ng
