Explosions and gunfire were heard early Thursday at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, according to residents who spoke to the BBC.
Witnesses said the incident began around 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT), with sustained gunfire lasting for about two hours near the entrance of the airport. One resident, who was at a nearby mosque, said they initially heard gunshots before calm was later restored.
Another witness told AFP that the shooting appeared to come from the airport’s main entrance, sparking panic in the surrounding area.
Security sources and residents indicated that the Nigerien army quickly responded and repelled the attackers. Reports suggest the assailants fled the scene, abandoning weapons, while security forces launched a search operation to track them down.
Although authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the incident, no group has claimed responsibility. Niger has been battling a long-running Islamist insurgency, with previous attacks in the capital region linked to jihadist groups.
In January, suspected militants carried out a similar attack on the same airport, which authorities said resulted in the deaths of 20 attackers and injuries to four military personnel. An affiliate of the Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for that assault.
Following repeated security threats, Niger’s military government has intensified measures around the airport, including demolishing nearby neighbourhoods, expanding perimeter fencing, and installing more than 350 surveillance cameras.
The country, led by a military junta for the past three years, continues to face persistent security challenges amid ongoing regional instability in the Sahel.
