At least 16 people were killed in two separate attacks by armed bandits in southwestern Niger, near the border with Benin and Nigeria.
The assaults, which took place on the nights of February 22 and 24, targeted villages in the Dioundiou area, a region known for jihadist activity.
According to state radio reports, the first attack occurred in Dioundiou, where gunmen rounded up villagers and opened fire, killing 14 people.
Two nights later, another attack in a neighboring town claimed two more lives.
Authorities suspect jihadist groups are behind the violence, as the central Sahel region has witnessed a surge in militant activities in recent years.
The Dioundiou area is also a strategic zone, with a 2,000-kilometer pipeline transporting Niger’s oil to Benin running through it.
The attacks highlight the persistent security challenges facing Niger, as armed groups continue to exploit the region’s porous borders.
Officials have yet to identify the perpetrators, and security forces are on high alert to prevent further violence.
