Several hours of gunfire erupted around the international airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, early Thursday, raising fresh security concerns just five months after jihadist fighters carried out a major assault on the strategic facility.
Residents reported that the shooting began at about 6:00 a.m. local time and appeared to originate from the entrance of the airport, a key transport hub and sensitive military location.
One resident told AFP that the gunfire lasted for several hours.
“I heard the first shots around 6 o’clock. The shooting was coming from the airport entrance,” the resident said.
Another witness confirmed that the exchange of fire was concentrated near a security checkpoint at the airport entrance.
By mid-morning, calm had reportedly returned to the area, although security forces maintained a strong presence around the airport and surrounding communities.
A resident who was scheduled to travel on Thursday said soldiers had blocked access to the airport and informed passengers that flights could not proceed.
“When we got near the airport, the soldiers explained that it was not possible to take the plane,” he said.
According to local accounts, security forces later expanded operations into nearby communities, including the Route Tchanga area, where suspected attackers were believed to be hiding.
A motorcycle taxi operator said residents joined efforts to locate the suspects after the shooting subsided.
“No more shots can be heard in the airport; the situation is under control,” he said.
“The military went down into certain neighbourhoods around the airport to sweep the area; they are receiving help from residents who are hunting down bandits with sticks and machetes.”
The incident comes five months after the airport and a nearby military drone base were attacked in January by fighters linked to the Islamic State in the Sahel.
The January 29 assault was successfully repelled by Nigerien troops and their Russian allies. Authorities said at the time that 20 attackers were killed while four soldiers sustained injuries.
The attack was notable because it targeted a highly secured location in Niamey, whereas jihadist violence has traditionally been concentrated in more remote regions of the country.
Following the January attack, Niger’s military ruler, Abdourahamane Tiani, acknowledged that security weaknesses had enabled the operation.
Speaking on state television, Tiani said “a flaw in the system” had allowed the attackers to attempt what he described as a mission aimed at destroying the military’s air capabilities.
The airport remains one of Niger’s most sensitive facilities. Between December and January, a significant shipment of concentrated uranium was reportedly stored at the site while awaiting export.
Authorities have since undertaken extensive security upgrades around the airport. These include the demolition of thousands of illegally constructed homes near the facility, a move officials said was necessary to reduce terrorist threats.
Government figures indicate that approximately 26,000 residents living in four neighbourhoods around the airport were affected by the demolitions.
Officials argued that the settlements had become vulnerable to infiltration by extremist groups.
Additional security measures have included the expansion of the airport perimeter fence and the installation of more than 350 surveillance cameras both inside and outside the airport complex.
Niger continues to face persistent security challenges from armed groups linked to both the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.
The country, alongside neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, has endured more than a decade of insurgent violence that has displaced communities and strained regional security forces.
Since seizing power in a military coup in July 2023, Tiani’s administration has sought new security partnerships after distancing itself from former colonial power France.
The junta has instead strengthened cooperation with countries including Russia, Turkey and Iran in its efforts to combat insecurity.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding Thursday’s gunfire or identifying those responsible.
