Loud explosions and prolonged gunfire erupted near the airport in Niger’s capital, Niamey, early Thursday morning, sparking fears of a possible attack on one of the country’s most important transport hubs.
According to witnesses, the first explosions were heard at around 6am local time, followed by sustained and intermittent gunfire that continued for more than an hour.
A Reuters witness at the scene reported hearing sporadic gunshots nearly two hours after the initial blasts, while residents said security forces quickly moved to seal off the area surrounding the airport.
A security source indicated that the airport appeared to be under attack, although authorities had yet to officially confirm the nature of the incident.
The Nigerien government did not immediately issue a statement, and officials had not provided details on potential casualties, damage or those responsible at the time of reporting.
The latest security scare comes amid ongoing instability in the Sahel region, where extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State continue to carry out attacks despite military operations aimed at restoring security.
Earlier this year, an Islamic State affiliate operating in the region claimed responsibility for an attack targeting the same airport.
Niger, along with neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, has faced years of violence from armed extremist groups, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people across the region.
Security forces remained deployed around the airport as authorities worked to assess the situation and determine the source of the attack.
Investigations are ongoing.
