Tragic Surge of Violence in Niger: 127 Executed in Jihadist Attacks

Tue Sep 30 2025 07:53:09 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A HRW report claims that nearly 130 people have been executed by Islamist insurgents in Niger, raising alarming concerns about security under the military junta.

Human Rights Watch has reported that 127 individuals have been summarily executed by jihadist groups in Niger, highlighting the urgent need for effective security measures. These attacks include a devastating massacre at a mosque, challenging the military government's ability to manage the ongoing insurgency.

Nearly 130 people have been summarily executed by Islamist insurgents in Niger in separate attacks since March, a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) reveals.

The rights group details a series of brutal assaults, including a horrific mass shooting at a mosque in the Tillabéri region in June, which claimed the lives of over 70 worshippers during prayer time.

There were bodies everywhere, one on top of the other, recounted a local woman who lost three sons in the attack, as reported by HRW.

This wave of violence poses a significant blow to the credibility of Niger's military junta, which had promised to combat the insurgency after taking power in a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023.

Human Rights Watch notes that approximately 1,600 civilians have lost their lives due to attacks from Islamic State (IS) militants since the coup, as per data from the conflict-monitoring group Acled.

The jihadists have not only terrorized the population but have also destroyed schools and religious sites, enforcing stringent restrictions on personal freedoms based on their radical interpretation of Islam, HRW stated.

HRW's Ilaria Allegrozzi remarked, Islamist armed groups are targeting the civilian population in western Niger and committing horrific abuses, and emphasized the need for Nigérien authorities to enhance protective measures for residents in the Tillabéri region.

In May, an attack in the Dani Fari area left five men and two boys dead, in addition to destroying homes. Witnesses described the aftermath, stating, The bodies were scattered, riddled with bullets, as an assembly of villagers' calls for military protection went largely ignored.

While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the documented attacks, eyewitnesses have attributed them to IS fighters, recognizable by their distinct red-banded turbans.

Located at the intersection of Burkina Faso and Mali, the Tillabéri region has been a pivotal area for insurgent activities for the past decade. Facing continuous violence, Niger and its military-run neighbors are contemplating new strategies to effectively combat the escalating jihadist threat, while reducing ties with the West and turning toward partnerships with Russia and Turkey.