Armed assailants kill 20 civilians in western Niger

At least 20 civilians were killed when armed assailants opened fire on a truck in western Niger, local sources said on August 16.

The attack took place on August 14 near the town of Komabangou, located in a region plagued by jihadist violence. According to residents, gunmen ambushed the vehicle, shooting the driver and 19 male passengers dead, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“They sprayed bullets at the truck, leaving no survivors,” a local told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns.

The death toll was corroborated by other residents as well as local media reports.

Western Niger, bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, has long faced recurrent attacks from armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Villages, markets, and transport routes are frequent targets, despite ongoing military operations by Nigerien forces.

Authorities have not yet commented on the incident.

By Khagan Isayev