At least 35 people were killed when armed attackers targeted Niger’s largest airport on Thursday. The strike hit Diori Hamani International Airport in the capital, Niamey. It is one of the country’s most important transport and military sites.
Residents said they heard loud blasts and gunfire shortly after morning prayers. The airport area quickly turned into a conflict zone as security forces moved in.
Casualties confirmed by authorities
Officials later confirmed the death toll. They said 22 attackers were killed, along with 11 soldiers and two civilians. The government has not confirmed which group carried out the assault.
Security teams later launched a manhunt for any remaining suspects. Reports also suggested that some attackers were detained during the response operation.
Panic spreads in nearby communities
People living close to the airport described confusion and fear. One resident said the first sound was mistaken for a small explosion. Soon after, the scale of the attack became clear.
Some witnesses said armed locals tried to help track suspects. Security personnel, however, tried to control civilian involvement as the situation remained unstable.
Strategic site placed under lockdown
Authorities sealed off the airport area for several hours. Vehicles entering and leaving were searched as troops secured the perimeter.
Diori Hamani International Airport also serves as a military base. It hosts key security facilities linked to regional defence cooperation between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Ongoing insurgency in the region
Niger has faced armed insurgent attacks for many years. Groups linked to Islamist militancy remain active across the region. The country had already seen a similar assault on the same airport earlier this year.
Violence continues to challenge stability across West Africa’s Sahel region, where military governments are struggling to contain armed groups.
