Niger Republic: Terror Grips Makalondi Again as Armed Men Attack Municipality, Set Buildings Ablaze
The municipality of Makalondi, located in the Tillabéri region, was once again plunged into chaos on the evening of Saturday, May 3, as armed assailants believed to be members of the GANE group launched a fresh attack on the town’s center, residents and local sources confirmed.
The attack, which began around 7 p.m., saw houses, shops, attics, and roadside kiosks set ablaze. Eyewitnesses reported multiple rounds of gunfire and widespread panic as residents fled for safety or locked themselves indoors.
According to survivors, the assailants moved rapidly through key areas of the town, creating confusion and terror. “We are trapped. There's no way in or out of Makalondi since the attack on Thursday. We're living in fear, completely abandoned,” a resident told Zagazola.
The latest assault follows a deadly attack on May 1 which claimed the lives of the president of the school management committee (COGES) and a local businessman. Since then, residents say the municipality has remained isolated, with no visible security deployment or intervention from national authorities.
Makalondi, situated near Niger’s border with Burkina Faso, has become a frequent target of armed groups operating in the tri-border area. Citizens accuse the CNSP-led government of neglect and failure to provide adequate protection.
“We are delivered to ourselves. Fear has become our daily life. We are calling for urgent regional and international assistance. Enough is enough,” a resident appealed through local contacts.
Photographic evidence shared with Zagazola depicts scenes of destruction in the heart of Makalondi: charred buildings, bullet holes, and empty streets under the veil of fear.
