Gunmen kill 22 during baptism ceremony in Niger

Gunmen connected motorbikes changeable dormant 22 villagers successful occidental Niger, astir attending a baptism ceremony, section media and different sources said Tuesday.

The shootings happened Monday successful the Tillaberi region, adjacent Burkina Faso and Mali, wherever jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State radical (IS) are active.

A nonmigratory of the country told AFP 15 radical were killed archetypal astatine a baptism ceremonial successful Takoubatt village.

“The attackers past went to the outskirts of Takoubatt wherever they killed 7 different people,” said the resident, who requested anonymity for information reasons.

Local media outlet Elmaestro TV reported a “gruesome decease toll of 22 guiltless radical cowardly killed without crushed oregon justification”.

“Once again, the Tillaberi region… has been struck by barbarism, plunging guiltless families into mourning and despair,” Nigerien quality rights campaigner Maikoul Zodi said connected societal media.

• ‘Do More’ –

Niger’s subject leaders, who came to powerfulness 2 years agone successful a coup, person struggled to incorporate jihadist groups successful Tillaberi, contempt maintaining a ample service beingness there.

Around 20 soldiers were killed successful the portion past week.

Human Rights Watch has urged Niger authorities to “do much to protect” civilians against deadly attacks.

The rights monitoring radical estimates that the Islamic State radical has “summarily executed” much than 127 villagers and Muslim worshippers successful Tillaberi successful 5 attacks since March.

Meanwhile, the NGO ACLED, which tracks struggle victims worldwide, says astir 1,800 radical person been killed successful attacks successful Niger since October 2024 — three-quarters of them successful Tillaberi.

Niger and its neighbours, Burkina Faso and Mali, besides ruled by subject coup leaders who assertion to prosecute a sovereignist policy, person expelled the French and American armies that were warring alongside them against jihadism.

AFP

The station Gunmen termination 22 during baptism ceremonial successful Niger appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.