On May 9, 2020, gunmen attacked the villages of Gadabo, Zibane Koira-Zeno, and Zibane Koira-Tegui in the Tillabéri Region of Niger. At least twenty people were killed. The perpetrators and motive of the attacks are unknown.
| May 2020 Tillabéri massacres | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gadabo, Zibane Koira-Zeno, and Zibane Koira-Tegui, Tillabéri Region, Niger |
| Date | 9 May 2020 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. (West Africa Time) |
Attack type | Terrorist attack, looting |
| Deaths | 20+ |
| Perpetrators |  Unknown jihadists |
Background
The Tillabéri Region is situated in a tri-border area where the boundary of Niger meets that of Burkina Faso and Mali.[1] Niger has been under a state of emergency since 2017; this was extended shortly before the attacks took place.[2] Groups such as Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara operate in areas of Tillaberi region.[1] In January 2019, the Nigerien government limited the use of motorcycles at all hours of the day in a bid to stymie insurgents operating in the area.[2]
All of the villages targeted in the attack are in Anzourou, a hub of jihadist activity.[3]
Attacks
Between 4:00 and 5:30 on May 9, 2020, an unknown number of gunmen on motorbikes attacked the villages of Gadabo, Zibane Koira-Zeno, and Zibane-Tegui in Tillaberi.[2] A witness to the massacre stated that the attackers arrived on thirteen to twenty motorcycles, and attacked Gadabo first.[4] The attackers divided into groups, and surrounded the village. In the south side of Gadabo, three people were shot. The attackers then drove off to Zibane Koira-Zeno, where three men were shot in cold blood.[4] In Zibane Koira-Tegui, the last village to be hit, the attackers "shot at anything that moved", and even shot people hiding under their beds.[4] The attackers also yelled not to attack women.[4]
Seven people were each killed in Gadabo and Zibane Koira-Zeno, and six people were killed in Zibane Koira-Tegui.[5] The attackers also ransacked shops in the villages, and stole cereal and cattle.[6] Villagers were ordered by the militants to flee.[6] The perpetrators then escaped to the north, towards the Malian border.[7]
Initial response
Ibrahim Tidjani Katchella, the governor of Tillaberi, told national radio that the attackers pillaged shops, but did not elaborate.[1] No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, although Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and ISGS were the prime suspects.[8] Survivors stated that they only could see rags on the militants' heads, and it was impossible to identify a specific group.[4]
External links
References
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