NIAMEY, Niger: At least 44 people were killed and 13 others injured in a terror attack on a mosque in southwestern Niger, authorities said on Friday. The assault took place during Friday prayers in the village of Fonbita.
According to a statement broadcast on state television, Niger’s Interior Ministry described the attack as a “cowardly and inhumane act,” vowing to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Interior Minister Mohamed Toumba confirmed that among the injured, four were in critical condition.
The attack took place around 2 p.m. local time while worshippers were gathered for Friday prayers.
Heavily armed attackers stormed the mosque, surrounding it before opening fire with “exceptional brutality,” the ministry stated.
Following the massacre, the attackers also set fire to a nearby market and several homes before fleeing the scene.
In response to the tragedy, the Niger government has declared three days of national mourning, beginning Saturday.
Flags will be flown at half-mast across the country, and public events are expected to be subdued as the nation mourns the victims.
The attack highlights the deteriorating security situation in Niger’s southwestern region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso.
The area has been a stronghold for militant groups who have carried out numerous attacks against civilians and security forces in recent years.
Since July 2023, at least 2,400 people have been killed in Niger, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a non-governmental organisation tracking political violence.
Despite ongoing counterterrorism operations by Niger’s military, extremist groups have continued to exploit regional instability to expand their influence.
The Niger government has expelled French forces and sought security assistance from Russian paramilitary groups.
Along with Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger has formed the Alliance of Sahel States, aimed at strengthening regional defence efforts against armed insurgents.
The Niger government has pledged to intensify its counterterrorism operations following the attack.
“These criminals will be pursued and brought to justice,” the Interior Ministry stated. However, analysts warn that the security situation in the Sahel region remains precarious.
No group has formally claimed responsibility for the attack, though authorities have attributed it to ISGS, which has been active in the region.
