20 Civilians Killed in Niger Gang Massacre

At least 20 civilians were killed in a massacre carried out by armed gangs in western Niger, according to local sources on Saturday.

The attack took place on Thursday near the gold mining area of Koumbango in Tillabéri region, where terrorist groups are highly active. The victims, travelling on a truck from the town of Mehanna, were ambushed by the assailants.

Witnesses reported that the attackers forced all passengers out of the vehicle before separating 19 men, executing them with gunfire, and then killing the driver. The truck was later set on fire. Two women survived the assault, while two other passengers managed to escape.

Local outlet Niger Scoop confirmed the death toll, reporting that about 20 people lost their lives in the massacre.

The Tillabéri region lies within the border triangle between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, an area long plagued by violence from armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Niger continues to face escalating insecurity as extremist groups target civilians in rural areas.