Tragedy Strikes Niger: Gunmen Kill 22 During Baptism Ceremony

Wed Oct 22 2025 09:21:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A devastating attack by armed assailants on a baptism ceremony in Niger has resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals, highlighting the ongoing security crisis in the region amidst escalating jihadist violence.

In a horrific assault, gunmen targeted a baptism ceremony in a village in western Niger, killing 22 people. The incident raises serious concerns over the government's ability to protect civilians from ongoing jihadist violence, as similar attacks have surged in recent months. Local activists are demanding urgent action from the military government to address this pressing issue of security.

Gunmen on motorbikes have shot dead 22 people, most of them attending a baptism ceremony, in an attack on a village in western Niger, reports say.

A resident told the French news agency AFP that 15 people were killed at the ceremony in the Tillabéri region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, before the attackers moved elsewhere and killed seven others.

While people celebrated a baptism ceremony, gunmen opened fire, sowing death and terror, local civil rights activist Maikoul Zodi said on social media.

Niger's military government has struggled to contain jihadist violence in the region, which has been carried out by groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The AFP news agency also highlighted reports from local media outlet Elmaestro TV that described the attack as a gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people cowardly killed without reason or justification.

Niger's authorities have confirmed there was indeed an attack in the area but have not provided any casualty figures.

Last week, Human Rights Watch reported that jihadist groups had intensified their attacks in Niger since March, with over 127 villagers and Muslim worshippers being killed.

Dozens of homes have also been looted and burned during this time frame.

The group accused authorities of failing to respond adequately to warnings of attacks and ignoring pleas for assistance from villagers.

Last Wednesday, 14 Nigerien soldiers were ambushed in the Tillabéri region, as announced in the army's weekly bulletin.

According to the army, one of its units was deployed following reports of cattle theft by armed men, but the operation turned out to be an ambush.

It remains difficult to verify the actual number of casualties during such attacks because of access restrictions and fears of reprisals among witnesses and local media.

On Tuesday, Mr. Zodi expressed outrage over the continued exposure of civilians to insecurity, urging the government to prioritize the safety and dignity of its citizens.

It is time for concrete answers, strengthen state presence in vulnerable areas, and show that every Nigerien life matters, he posted on Facebook.

Niger has been under military control since 2023, when General Abdourahmane Tchiani deposed the elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.

Its neighboring countries, Burkina Faso and Mali, are also facing the same jihadist insurgency and are ruled by military leaders who have also struggled to mitigate the violence.

All three countries have expelled French and U.S. forces that were previously heavily involved in combatting the jihadist threat throughout the Sahel region.

Alongside diminishing their ties with the West, they have formed an alliance to fight the jihadist threat, seeking security support from Russia and Turkey. Nonetheless, the violence has persisted.