May 2020 Tillabéri attacks

The Tillabéri Region is situated in a tri-border area of Liptako–Gourma, 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] In the years leading up to the attacks, militant jihadist groups with ties to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State had increased their power and influence in the Sahel, making parts of that land "ungovernable".[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][3]

From around 4:00 to 5:30 pm local time on 9 May 2020, an "unknown number" of gunmen on motorbikes attacked the villages of Gadabo, Zibane Koira-Zeno, and Zibane-Tegui in the Tillabéri Region.[2][4] At least 20 people were killed. In addition, they ransacked shops, stole cereal and cattle,[2][4] and ordered the villagers to leave.[4] The gunmen then escaped to the north,[2][3] in the direction of the border with Mali.[5]

The governor of the region, Ibrahim Tidjani Katchella, spoke to national radio the day after the attacks.[3] He gave a basic overview of the attacks, but did not elaborate further.[1]