Gunmen Kill 22 Villagers at Baptism Ceremony in Niger

Gunmen on motorcycles killed 22 villagers attending a baptism ceremony in western Niger, near the border with Burkina Faso and Mali. The attack occurred in Takoubatt village in the Tillaberi region, an area plagued by jihadist groups linked to ISIS.

The assailants first killed 15 people at the ceremony and then shot dead seven others on the outskirts of the village. The incident has been condemned as a cowardly act, with human rights campaigners and residents expressing outrage.

Niger has been struggling to contain jihadist violence, with recent attacks resulting in civilian casualties. The region has seen increased military presence, but the violence persists, with reports of militants summarily executing villagers in multiple attacks since March.