Gunmen have attacked a church in Niger, killing a husband and wife after opening fire during a late night church service in the country’s south western region, according to local sources and residents.
The deadly incident occurred in Mailo village, located in the Dosso region, an area that has been affected by years of insecurity linked to armed groups operating across parts of the Sahel. The attack has renewed fears about the safety of civilians and places of worship in Niger, where both Christian and Muslim communities have increasingly become targets of violent attacks.
Residents said the attack took place at about 11.00 pm on Wednesday night while Christians were gathered for a church service. Armed men reportedly stormed the church and fired shots into the air, triggering panic among worshippers.
“The attack happened in Mailo village at around eleven pm on Wednesday night. Christians were attending mass in the church when armed individuals came in and fired into the air. There was panic everywhere,” a local resident told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
According to the source, worshippers rushed out of the church in different directions in a bid to escape. In the chaos, a man and his wife ran to their nearby home and attempted to hide from the attackers. However, the assailants reportedly followed them and killed the couple inside their house.
“A man and his wife ran and hid in their house, but the attackers followed them there and killed them,” the source said.
Another resident confirmed the attack and said several villagers fled the area immediately after the shooting. Many residents reportedly sought refuge in neighbouring villages, while others hid in nearby bushes throughout the night, fearing further violence.
The resident added that the attackers escaped from the village with cattle after the assault, suggesting that the incident may have involved both terror and criminal motives. The theft of livestock has been a recurring feature of attacks by armed groups in rural parts of Niger.
Security analysts say the attack reflects the broader insecurity across the Sahel region, where armed groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State have expanded their activities in recent years. These groups have carried out attacks on villages, markets, security forces, and places of worship, often targeting civilians.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project indicates that nearly two thousand people have been killed in violent incidents across Niger so far this year. The figures highlight the growing scale of insecurity in the country despite ongoing military efforts to combat armed groups.
Although Niger is predominantly Muslim, relations between Christians and Muslims are generally peaceful. However, suspected jihadist groups have previously been blamed for attacks on churches in the Tillaberi region between 2018 and 2021.
Earlier this year, the same broader region also recorded the killing of 111 Muslim worshippers in a separate attack, underlining the fact that the violence has affected communities across religious lines.
As of the time of filing this report, Nigerien authorities had not released an official statement on the Mailo village church attack. It also remains unclear whether any arrests have been made or if security forces have launched operations to track down the attackers.
Residents of the affected community continue to live in fear as investigations are ongoing, with many calling on the government to strengthen security in rural areas and protect civilians and places of worship from further attacks.
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