Niger Republic Bus Attacks Kill At Least 11 — Report

Gunmen attacked two buses on the main road in northern Niger on Tuesday, killing at least 11 passengers, said a media report and a local source.

The west African country’s vast, arid north has largely been spared the jihadist violence that has plagued the west and southeast, but the region is a trafficking route for drugs, guns and migrants, particularly toward Europe.

The region is also home to armed groups hostile to the military junta that has ruled the country since a 2023 coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and has been hit by violence linked to wildcat gold mines, a booming business in the area.

“An attack on two buses killed at least 11 people and left multiple wounded,” reported local broadcaster Tegades TV.

It said the buses had left the mining town of Arlit Tuesday morning and were attacked just outside the city of Agadez by gunmen aboard three vehicles.

“We were on our way to Agadez when we ran into bandits who opened fire on us,” a passenger told Tegades TV, showing a wound to his shoulder.

“There were a lot of dead.”

He said soldiers escorting the bus convoy had exchanged gunfire with the attackers.

An Agadez resident confirmed the attack to AFP.