Gunfire reported at Niamey airport entrance

The first shots were reported around 6:00 AM local time, with residents describing the incident as a "terrorist attack" originating from the airport's main gate and a checkpoint. The Nigerien authorities have launched an investigation into the situation. This incident follows a major jihadist attack in late January that targeted the Niamey airport and an adjacent military base, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.

That attack was repelled by the Nigerien army and its Russian partners, resulting in four injuries and significant material damage. General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the military regime that came to power in a July 2023 coup, had previously acknowledged a "flaw in the system" that allowed the January attack, stating its objective was to destroy the army's air capabilities. In recent weeks, the regime had initiated a campaign to demolish neighborhoods around the airport to mitigate "terrorist risk," and security measures were enhanced, including extending the perimeter wall and installing over 350 cameras inside and outside the facility.