At least 44 civilians were killed, and 13 others were injured in an attack by a local militant group on a mosque in southwestern Niger. The attack took place on Friday during prayer time in the village of Fomita, near Kokoro city, close to the borders of Burkina Faso and Mali. The information was confirmed by Niger’s Ministry of Defense and reported by Reuters.
According to the ministry, the attack was carried out by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), a militant group linked to both Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Armed militants surrounded the mosque and launched a brutal assault on worshippers gathered for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
Before leaving the area, the militants also set fire to a local market and several homes. The military confirmed the death toll and stated that security forces had been deployed to the area.
In response to the attack, the Nigerien government declared three days of national mourning to honor the victims.
Since 2012, Islamist insurgencies have spread across the Sahel region, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These militant groups frequently target villages, military checkpoints, and security forces, causing thousands of deaths and displacing millions. Niger has been a key partner for Western nations in counterterrorism operations in the region.