Niger: 39 villagers killed in two terrorist attacks

According to reports, 39 villagers were murdered in two separate attacks in the villages of dekokorou and libiri, in the Téra department of western Niger.

“Two appalling tragedies have struck the localities of Libiri and Kokorou: criminals, blamed by the constant operations of the defense and security forces, have cowardly targeted defenseless civilian populations”, reported the Nigerian Armed Forces (FAN) in a statement on Saturday.

Among the victims were many women and children, said the army, which also stressed that the authorities have expressed their deep indignation at these barbaric acts and their solidarity with the families of the victims.

They reaffirmed their determination to adopt all necessary measures to track down and neutralize those responsible for these atrocities.

These two villages are located in the so-called Three Borders region (Niger-Mali-Burkina Faso), an area marked by growing insecurity in recent years, fuelled by the activities of jihadist groups.