Two separate jihadist attacks in western Niger have claimed the lives of at least 39 people, including children.
The attacks occurred between December 12 and December 14 in the Tera region, near the Burkina Faso border.
According to the Nigerien defense ministry, 21 people were killed in the community of Libiri, and 18 in Kokorou.
The exact dates of the attacks were not specified, but both towns are located in a region plagued by jihadist violence.
The Tera region, situated along Niger’s borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, has long been a hotspot for jihadist groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
These militants have launched numerous attacks on civilians and security forces in the area, exploiting the region’s porous borders to evade military action.
Earlier this month, gunmen killed 21 civilians in an attack on a goods convoy.
A separate assault on December 11 in Chatoumane reportedly left over 130 dead, including both soldiers and civilians.
Niger’s government condemned the attacks, calling them “barbaric” acts carried out by criminals under pressure from ongoing military operations.
Despite efforts to curb the violence, the insurgency continues to grow, exacerbating the region’s instability.
Thousands of civilians have been displaced, and the government has urged for increased security measures and international support to combat the growing threat from jihadist groups along its borders.
