Attack in Moto Gatta prompts renewed calls for security in Niger’s border regions

In Moto Gatta, a village in Tillabéri near Niger’s border with Mali, a deadly attack unfolded that claimed the lives of at least twenty-two residents. The assailants, believed to be armed individuals associated with jihadist factions, moved swiftly through the area, targeting civilians as they rode on motorcycles. Local authorities reported the incident occurred on a Sunday afternoon around 16:00, and witnesses recalled a sudden volley of gunfire that disrupted the quiet streets. Community advocacy groups, working alongside local emergency services, documented the fatalities and injuries as the situation unfolded, with updates later transmitted by regional media outlets such as Radio France Internationale (RFI). RFI’s reporting highlighted the shock felt across the community and the broader concerns about security in border regions where conflicts have repeatedly flared in recent years.