At least 35 people have been killed after heavily armed gunmen launched a coordinated assault on Niger’s largest airport, Diori Hamani International Airport in the capital, Niamey.
According to Niger’s Defence Ministry, the death toll includes 22 attackers, 11 soldiers and two civilians. Authorities also confirmed that four assailants were wounded and 20 suspects arrested following the attack.
The assault occurred early Thursday morning, shortly after residents had concluded their dawn prayers. Witnesses reported hearing powerful explosions followed by sustained gunfire around the airport complex, which also serves as a key military installation.
“I had just finished morning prayers when we heard a loud explosion,” a resident living near the airport told local media. “At first, we thought it was an accident, but moments later the sound of gunfire became clear.”
Security forces quickly responded to the attack, engaging the gunmen in intense clashes that lasted several hours before authorities regained control of the area.
Later on Thursday, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group operating across the Sahel region, claimed responsibility for the assault.
The Defence Ministry said security personnel recovered a large cache of weapons during the operation, including RPG-7 rocket launchers, AK-47 rifles, grenades, explosives, communication equipment and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Authorities launched a massive manhunt for suspects believed to have escaped during the attack. Residents reported that some armed civilians joined security forces in searching for the attackers, although officials attempted to discourage civilian participation.
“The attackers blended into nearby communities, making it difficult to identify them,” one witness said. “Many people armed themselves with sticks and machetes to protect their neighbourhoods.”
The airport area remained under heavy security throughout the day, with checkpoints established and vehicles subjected to extensive searches.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, condemned the attack and praised Nigerien security forces for successfully repelling the assault and securing the airport.
Diori Hamani International Airport is one of Niger’s most strategic facilities, serving both civilian and military purposes. It also hosts installations connected to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the regional bloc formed by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
The attack marks the second major assault on the airport in less than five months. In January, militants linked to the Islamic State group attacked the same facility, leaving several soldiers injured and multiple attackers dead.
Niger continues to face a persistent jihadist insurgency that has destabilised large parts of the country and the wider Sahel region for more than a decade.
In response to growing security concerns, authorities have recently expanded security measures around the airport, including extending perimeter fencing, installing hundreds of surveillance cameras and clearing nearby settlements considered security risks.
Investigations into Thursday’s attack remain ongoing as security agencies continue efforts to track down any remaining suspects.
