Six refugees among 137 killed in Niger’s recent attack

 

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, on Thursday announced that six refugees were part of the 137 people that were killed on 21 March in Niger’s western region of Tahoua, near the town of Tillia.

The attack was perpetrated by unidentified men who raided three villages and other hamlets.

It was one of the deadliest attacks in recent memory in the West African country dogged by Islamist violence.

The UNHCR labelled the attacks “targeted and deliberate.”

“In addition to the unjustifiable violence meted out against civilians, shelters and granaries were also burned to the ground and cattle stolen or killed. Survivors have nothing left,” it said.

“An estimated 1,400 people from these villages are now on the move, trying to escape from the violence.”

The deadly attacks are thought to have been revenge for recent arrests of people suspected of belonging to armed groups in the area.