Thirty-five pipo don lose their life after gunmen attack Niger biggest airport on Thursday, officials tok. Na di second attack for less dan five months for di same airport.
Residents for di predominantly Muslim country tell BBC say dem don just finish morning prayer when explosion and gunshot sound ring out from Diori Hamani international airport, wey dey di capital, Niamey.
Niger defence ministry say di fatalities consist of 22 attackers, 11 soldiers, and two civilians. On Thursday evening, al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) say dem carry out di attack.
Niger don dey fight Islamist insurgency for decade now, and for January, organisation wey link to Islamic State group claim responsibility for attack on di same airport.
Thursday violence settle by mid-morning and security forces don launch manhunt for any remaining attackers. Lawalli Tsalha, wey live near di airport, wey also host military base, tell BBC: “We finish our prayer at about 05:50 (04:50 GMT) and shortly afterwards we hear loud bang – like something don explode, perhaps tyre.
“It was only little later we realise wetin dey happen.” Authorities say alongside di 22 attackers wey dem kill, another four dey wound. Dem add say 20 suspects dem arrest.
Large cache of weapons including RPG-7 launchers, AK-47 rifles, explosives, grenades, communications equipment and thousands of rounds of ammunition dem reportedly seize.
Armed local residents join di manhunt, though witnesses tell BBC say security personnel try stop civilians from getting involved. One resident, wey no want name, say: “Di attackers mix with di local population, so finding dem no easy. Civilians pick up machetes and sticks to defend themselves and to strike anyone dem no recognise wey come dia way.”
Di airport vicinity don lock down on Thursday afternoon, with security forces searching vehicles entering and leaving di area. For televised statement, di defence ministry blame “armed mercenaries” for di attack, saying dem sponsor by France, without providing evidence. France no immediately comment.
Di military wey seize power for July 2023 coup get frosty relations with France and regularly accuse am of trying to destabilise Niger, wey France deny. Since di coup, French soldiers based for Niger don order to leave and replace with Russian military contractors.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf “strongly condemn” di assault and praise Nigerien forces wey dia action “make am possible to repel di attack and secure di airport facilities.”
Diori Hamani international airport na one of Niger most sensitive security installations, serving as both civilian aviation hub and military base. E also host facilities link to di Alliance of Sahel States (AES), wey consist of Niger and neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso. All three countries dey run by juntas wey come to power partly because of failure to deal with years of jihadist violence for di region.
For January attack on di airport, four military personnel dem injure and 20 attackers dem kill, Niger defence ministry say. At dat time, di head of Niger military government, wey don dey power for three years, thank Russia for help for foiling di attack. Abdourahamane Tiani also accuse di presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast of backing those responsible. E no give details of wetin help Russia provide, or provide any evidence to support accusations against di other countries.
For recent weeks, authorities for Niger don demolish neighbourhoods near di airport, citing “terrorist risks”. Dem also extend di airport perimeter fence and install more than 350 surveillance cameras, AFP report.
