Islamist Group Executes Civilians in Niger’s Tillabéri Region
An Islamist armed faction has carried out a series of deadly attacks in western Niger, resulting in the deaths of 30 civilians—including four children—and five captured fighters since January 18, 2026. According to reports, these atrocities have been attributed to the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), which Human Rights Watch has classified as war crimes under international law.
Tillabéri: A Hotspot of Violence
On January 18, militants from the EIS gathered and executed 31 men and boys in the village of Bossieye. The killings appear to be in retaliation for residents refusing to pay zakat—an Islamic tax imposed by the group—and for joining pro-government militias. A second attack on January 26 in the village of Alfaga Daweyzé Koira left four men dead and five others injured after they attempted to protect a villager accused of collaborating with the military.
«The EIS has been systematically targeting civilians in the Tillabéri region,» said Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at Human Rights Watch. «These recent massacres are part of a disturbing pattern of atrocities, demonstrating a blatant disregard for human life.»
Witness Accounts Highlight Brutality
Between January 21 and February 4, Human Rights Watch conducted remote interviews with 13 individuals, including six attack witnesses and seven local activists, journalists, and community leaders. On February 6, the organization sent a letter to the military junta detailing its findings and requesting a response, which remains unanswered.
Witnesses described the attackers as EIS militants, identifiable by their red-striped turbans—previously seen in earlier assaults. In November 2025, the group had demanded that villagers in Bossieye pay zakat within a month. However, local leaders encouraged resistance, urging residents to join government-backed militias instead.
«It was unacceptable to keep giving our cattle and millet to a few men on six motorcycles,» one 45-year-old villager recounted. «I warned the village chief that danger was coming—but he didn’t listen.» The attack followed shortly after.
By late 2025, many residents of Bossieye—primarily from the Zarma ethnic group—had received military training and weapons to form a militia against the EIS.
Mass Executions and Community Grief
On January 18, around noon, over 100 armed assailants arrived in Bossieye on motorcycles, prompting a mass exodus. The militants forcibly gathered men and boys, including those at the 1 p.m. mosque prayer, executing at least 31 individuals—five of whom had joined the militia but were unarmed. Women and young children were spared, but gunfire was later heard. The next day, government forces from Operation Borkono secured the area, allowing villagers to bury the victims.
A 42-year-old man from Yatakala, who visited Bossieye on January 19, described seeing 31 bodies near the mosque, «riddled with bullets.» Four mass graves were dug, holding nine, nine, six, and seven bodies respectively. A 65-year-old witness confirmed the tally, listing 27 adult men and four teenage boys aged 15 to 17 among the dead.
On January 26, five EIS militants arrived in Alfaga Daweyzé Koira on motorcycles, searching for a man accused of aiding the army. When the suspect wasn’t found, they opened fire on a crowd, killing four and injuring five. The wounded were evacuated, and the victims were buried in individual graves. Nigerian soldiers arrived two days later but left without addressing the broader humanitarian crisis.
Niger’s Military Junta Faces Mounting Challenges
The Niger military junta, which seized power in July 2023, has vowed to combat Islamist insurgencies. However, security operations in Tillabéri—including airstrikes—have allegedly led to further civilian casualties, exacerbating the crisis.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), Tillabéri recorded the highest number of civilian casualties in the central Sahel in 2025, with EIS responsible for most attacks, followed by Nigerien forces and the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM)—an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
Under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, all parties in the conflict are prohibited from targeting civilians, mistreating detainees, or destroying civilian property. Violations may constitute war crimes, and perpetrators could face prosecution. The Nigerien government is obligated to investigate alleged war crimes and hold those responsible accountable.
«The relentless atrocities by the EIS against civilians are deeply alarming,» Allegrozzi emphasized. «Niger’s military authorities must prioritize civilian protection, prosecute abusers, and ensure victims and their families receive adequate support.»