Niger has declared two days of nationwide mourning from Friday, after a minimum of 69 folks had been killed in an assault by suspected Islamist insurgents.
The assault occurred within the nation’s south-west, close to the border with Mali.
Victims included an area mayor and the chief of a self-defence militia, the federal government stated. A search is underneath manner for survivors.
No group has claimed duty for the bloodshed, which passed off on Tuesday.
The assailants fled throughout the border into Mali, reportedly taking their very own lifeless away with them.
Niger’s inside ministry stated a delegation led by the mayor of Banibangou had been ambushed at a village about 55km (32 miles) away, within the western Tillaberi area. In a press release, it blamed “unidentified armed bandits”.
The world is overrun by militants related to an area affiliate of the so-called Islamic State group.
Niger is going through jihadist insurgencies on its borders with Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Greater than 500 folks have been killed in rebel violence this yr within the nation’s southwest.
In March, some 137 folks had been killed throughout co-ordinated raids on three villages by suspected jihadists.