Gunmen on motorbikes kill 22 at baptism ceremony in western Niger, reports say

Gunmen on motorbikes shot dead 22 people, most of them attending a baptism ceremony, in an attack on a village in western Niger, news agencies and local media reported.

A resident told the French news agency AFP that 15 people were killed at the ceremony in the Tillabéri region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, before the assailants moved elsewhere and killed seven more, bringing the reported toll to 22. Local media outlet Elmaestro TV described a "gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people cowardly killed without reason or justification." Nigerien authorities confirmed there had been an attack in the area but did not provide casualty figures.

"While people celebrated a baptism ceremony, gunmen opened fire, sowing death and terror," local civil rights activist Maikoul Zodi wrote on social media. He later urged the government to act, saying it was time to "strengthen state presence in vulnerable areas, and show that every Nigerien life matters."

The assault comes amid a wider surge of jihadist violence across the Sahel. Human Rights Watch said last week that armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State had increased attacks in Niger since March, summarily killing more than 127 villagers and Muslim worshippers and burning and looting dozens of homes. The organisation criticised authorities for not adequately responding to warnings and for ignoring calls for help from rural communities.

Security forces in Tillabéri have also suffered recent losses. In its weekly bulletin, the Nigerien army announced that 14 soldiers were killed in an ambush last Wednesday while investigating reports of cattle theft. The army said a unit deployed to the area was trapped in what it described as an ambush.

Independent verification of casualty figures in such attacks is often difficult because access to affected areas is limited and witnesses and local media may fear reprisals. Local residents and rights activists frequently report incidents to international and regional media, which then cite those accounts until official figures are released.

Niger has been under military rule since a 2023 coup led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani that deposed the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The country, like neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, has expelled French and some U.S. forces that were previously active in the fight against militants across the Sahel. The three governments have since sought support from Russia and Turkey while forming a regional alliance to tackle the insurgency, but the violence has persisted.

Humanitarian organisations and rights groups have warned that persistent insecurity is exacerbating displacement, disrupting agriculture and access to basic services, and deepening protection needs among rural populations. Civil society figures in Tillabéri called on the military rulers to prioritise civilian safety and restore a visible security presence in vulnerable communities.

Nigerien authorities have not provided further details about the identity of the attackers, their motives or any arrests. International partners and regional bodies have previously condemned similar attacks in the Sahel and urged coordinated action to protect civilians and restore security, but progress has been uneven amid political transitions and shifting external partnerships.