Gunmen on motorbikes killed 22 people during an attack on a baptism ceremony in Niger’s Tillabéri region on September 17, 2025, according to local reports and civil rights activists. The assault targeted villagers celebrating the religious ceremony before the attackers moved to other locations and killed additional victims.
A resident told the French news agency AFP that 15 people died at the baptism ceremony in the Tillabéri region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso. The gunmen then moved elsewhere and killed seven more people. Local civil rights activist Maikoul Zodi described the attack on social media, stating that gunmen opened fire while people celebrated the ceremony.
Niger’s military government confirmed an attack occurred in the area but has not released official casualty figures. The country’s authorities have struggled to contain jihadist violence in the region, carried out by groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Local media outlet Elmaestro TV reported what it called a gruesome death toll of innocent people killed without reason or justification.
The attack occurred in the same region where 14 Nigerien soldiers were killed in an ambush on September 10, 2025. The army announced that one of its units was deployed following reports of cattle theft by armed men, but the operation turned into an ambush. The military released this information in its weekly bulletin on September 13, 2025.
Human Rights Watch reported last week that jihadist groups had increased attacks in Niger since March 2025, summarily killing over 127 villagers and Muslim worshippers. The organization stated that dozens of homes have been looted and burned over the same period. The group blamed authorities for not adequately responding to warnings of attacks and ignoring calls for help by villagers.
Independent verification of casualty numbers in such attacks remains difficult due to access restrictions and fear of reprisals among witnesses and local media. Zodi questioned on September 15, 2025, why civilians were still being exposed to such insecurity and urged the government to prioritize citizen safety. He posted on Facebook: “It is time for concrete answers, strengthen state presence in vulnerable areas.”
Niger has been under military control since 2023 when General Abdourahmane Tchiani deposed the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The neighboring countries of Burkina Faso and Mali face the same jihadist insurgency and are also ruled by military leaders who have similarly struggled to contain the violence.
The three nations expelled French and US forces that were previously heavily involved in fighting jihadists operating across the Sahel region. After scaling back ties with Western nations, they formed an alliance to combat the jihadist threat and turned to Russia and Turkey for their security needs. However, the violence has continued despite these changes in international partnerships.
The Tillabéri region has become a focal point for jihadist activity in the broader Sahel region. The area’s proximity to Mali and Burkina Faso makes it particularly vulnerable to cross-border attacks by militant groups. The region’s rural nature and limited government presence have made it difficult for authorities to protect civilian populations from such attacks.
The attack on the baptism ceremony represents the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting civilians in Niger. The country’s military government faces mounting pressure to address the security crisis that has plagued the nation since the political upheaval in 2023. Local activists continue to call for increased government action to protect vulnerable communities in remote areas.
Niger’s security challenges reflect broader instability across the Sahel region, where jihadist groups have expanded their operations despite international efforts to combat them. The withdrawal of Western forces has created a security vacuum that local military forces have struggled to fill effectively.
