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100 Dead in Attacks on Two Villages in West Niger

Agence France-Presse

   NIAMEY, NIGER - About 100people were killed in Niger,amid the
   presidential election,inanattack on two villages in the west, one of
   the worst massacres of civilians in this country and in the Sahel
   regularly targeted by jihadi groups.

   "We have just returned from the scene of the attacks" carried out
   Saturday. "InTchomaBangou there were up to 70 dead and
   inZaroumadareye30 dead,"AlmouHassane, the mayor ofTondikiwindi, the
   townthatadministers the two villages, in theOuallamdepartment, told AFP
   Sunday.

   "There were also 25 wounded, some of whom were evacuated to Niamey
   andOuallamfor treatment," he added.

   The attack, which has not been claimed, was carried out Saturday by
   terroristsonmotorcycles.

   To attack the two villages (7 kilometers apart), the attackers split
   into two columns. While one attackedZaroumadareye, the other
   attackedTchomaBangou,the mayor said.

   The two villages are about 120 kilometers north of the capital,Niamey,
   in theTillabériregion, bordering Mali and Burkina Faso. This region
   known as "the three borders" has been regularly targeted for years by
   jihadi groups.

   A delegation with Prime MinisterBrigiRafinivisited the site,
   whileoutgoingPresident Mahamadou Issoufou will lead an exceptional
   National Security Council on Monday morning.

   Issoufou tweetedSundayhis "deepest condolences to the populations
   ofTchomaBangou and Zaroumadareye, following the cowardly and barbaric
   attack on their villages."

   According to a senior official in theTillabériregion,the attack
   occurredaround noonlocal time(11:00 GMT). At the same time,the results
   of the first round of the presidential election on December 27were
   announced. The candidate of the ruling party,MohamedBazoum,
   formerminister of theinterior,garnered39.33% of the vote. Hepromised to
   strengthen the fight against jihadi groups.

   Series of attacks

   Seven soldiers were killed December 21 in thewest, where the Islamic
   State in the Great Sahara (EIGS) regularlyoperates.Thirty-fourpeople
   werekilledDecember 12 in the village ofToumourin the southeast, an
   attack claimed by Boko Haram.

   Niger organized a series of elections in December, municipal and
   regionalonesDecember 13, then presidential and legislative combined on
   December 27. The second round of the presidential election is to take
   place February 20.

   The region ofTillabérihas been placed under a state of emergency since
   2017. To fight against the jihadis, the authorities in January 2020
   banned motorbike traffic day and night and the closure of certain
   markets.

   One of the poorest countries in the world, Niger has been fighting for
   years against Sahelian jihadi groups in its western part and Boko Haram
   initssoutheast withoutmuch successdespite regional cooperation
   andWestern military aid.

   Jihadi attacks in the west and south-east have claimed hundreds of
   lives since 2010,and caused about500,000 refugees and displaced people
   to flee their homes (including 160,000 in the west), according to the
   United Nations.

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