Local sources in western Niger have reported a tragic incident, revealing that 25 members of a self-defense militia were killed in a series of ambushes by armed groups in several villages near the Mali border. The ambushes occurred on Thursday, as confirmed by a former mayor in the commune of Anzourou, who spoke to AFP about the harrowing event.
The casualties, described as “young self-defense fighters,” were members of local militia groups formed to protect their communities from escalating violence in the region. Alongside the fatalities, three others were wounded during the attacks and subsequently evacuated to hospitals in the nearby towns of Tillaberi and Niamey.
The Tillaberi region, where these ambushes took place, has become notorious for the activities of the Sahel branch of the Islamic State jihadist group. A recent report from the conflict-monitoring NGO ACLED indicated that Tillaberi emerged as the deadliest area in the central Sahel in 2025, with over 1,200 deaths attributed primarily to violence linked to the Islamic State in the Sahel, as well as the Nigerien army and the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
The victims hailed from four neighboring villages: Doukou Makani, Doukou Djinde, Doukou Saraou, and Doukou Koirategui. Anzourou district, which encompasses around 50 villages and hamlets, has been a frequent target for jihadist attacks due to its location near the borders of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
The country has faced a persistent wave of jihadist violence for the past decade, exacerbated by a coup in July 2023 that resulted in the establishment of a military junta. This year alone, nearly 2,000 deaths have been recorded in Niger, as stated by ACLED, underscoring the severity of the ongoing conflict.
Amid the rising violence and the Nigerien army’s challenges in combating jihadist groups, the government has permitted the formation of self-defense militias, which have been drawn into bloody confrontations with militants. In response to this crisis, the military regime announced a “general mobilization” in December, alongside measures for the “requisition” of people and property to bolster the fight against these armed groups.
Additionally, Niger has collaborated with military forces from Mali and Burkina Faso, forming a 6,000-strong joint force to tackle the rising tide of jihadist violence threatening the region.
