Doha: An attack carried out by armed men in southwestern Niger killed 44 people. The Nigerien Ministry of Interior said in a statement that gunmen attacked a village Southwest of the country, killing 44 people, all of whom are civilians, and wounding 13 others. Four of the injured are in critical condition, the statement added.

According to Qatar News Agency, Niger has been the target of sporadic attacks by armed groups targeting security forces and civilians, which have increased in frequency following the security unrest that has plagued the Sahel region in recent years.