Dosso, Niger – A man and his wife were killed Wednesday evening in an attack on a church in the Dosso region of southwestern Niger. Local sources confirmed the incident to DZWatch.
The attack occurred in the village of Milo, which is part of the Dogondoutchi area, at approximately 11:00 PM local time. According to reports, armed assailants fired shots into the air inside the church, creating chaos. The attackers then pursued a man and his wife to their home, where they were killed.
The assailants also reportedly stole livestock during the attack. Some worshippers fled to neighboring villages or sought refuge in the surrounding bush.
Milo is located in the Dogondoutchi area of the Dosso region, which borders both Nigeria and Benin. Niger typically experiences peaceful coexistence between its Muslim and Christian communities. However, between 2018 and 2021, Niger witnessed attacks targeting churches in the western part of the country, particularly in the Tillabéri region, which borders Burkina Faso and Mali. These incidents included an armed attack in 2019 that injured a priest.
Despite a significant military presence, armed groups continue to target various communities. In March, 44 civilians were killed inside a mosque in Fambetta, and in June, 71 civilians were killed during a religious sermon in the village of Manda.
The southeast of Niger is also known to be active with Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). For about a decade, Niger has faced deadly attacks carried out by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), these attacks have resulted in the deaths of approximately two thousand people since the beginning of the year.
Muslims constitute the majority of Niger’s population of over 28 million, while Christians account for less than 2%.
