On 21 March 2021, armed jihadists attacked the villages of Intazayane, Bakorat, Wirsnat, and several other hamlets and camps in Tahoua Region, Niger. The attacks killed 137 people and injured several others.
Background
Niger has suffered from a jihadist insurgency since 2015, when Islamist groups from Mali began to spread their influence into the country. Since then, the border area between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso has become a hotspot for extremists.
In the same week, militants on motorbikes attacked a convoy in the neighboring Tillabéri Region, killing 58 people.
Attacks
The attacks took place at around 12:00 pm GMT. Armed jihadists indiscriminately attacked people in the villages of Intazayane, Bakorat, and Wirsnat, as well as several other hamlets and camps throughout the Tahoua region. 137 civilians were killed, making it the deadliest jihadist attack in Niger's history. At least 22 of the dead were children aged 5 to 17.
Reactions
Domestic
Mohamed Bazoum announced three days of national mourning for the victims of the attack, and also vowed that the government would reinforce security in the region.
International
The attacks were condemned by the United States, African Union, the UN Secretary General António Guterres, Turkey, India, and Algeria.
They were also condemned by the International Rescue Committee.