The jihadist groups that implement civilians and burning homes, HRW warning

A report issued by Human Rights Watch says that approximately 130 people “were briefly executed” by the Islamic rebels in Niger in separate attacks since March, says a report issued by Human Rights Watch.

The Group of Law says that the gunmen carried out a series of brutal attacks, including a mass murder in a mosque in the West Teaberi area in June, where more than 70 worshipers were killed during the prayers.

“There were bodies everywhere, one at the top of the other,” HRW moved a local woman, who lost three of her sons in the attack, saying.

The series of attacks is a major blow to the credibility of the Niger Military Council, as it promised to rebel when it seized power after President Mohamed Bazoum’s deposit in 2023.

About 1,600 civilians have been killed by the Islamic Group’s fighters (IS) in Niger since the coup, says HRW, citing the numbers collected by the conflict control group.

HRW said that jihadist groups also destroyed schools and religious sites, and imposed severe restrictions on people’s freedoms based on their interpretation of Islam.

“Islamic armed groups are targeting the civilian population in West Niger and committing horrific violations,” said Eilara Alygrozi, a prominent researcher at HRW.

She added: “The Nigerian authorities need to do more to protect people living in the Teabiri area.”

The army has not yet commented on HRW report.

The report said that five men and boys were killed in May when the fighters attacked the Danny Fari area and burned at least dozens of houses.

“The bodies were widespread … full of bullets. There was no one body there is less than three bullet holes. Bullets hit people in the back, arms and head.”

“We found the bodies of the two children lying on their backs,” the shepherd added.

Witnesses said that the army “did not respond sufficiently to the warnings of the attacks, ignoring the villagers’ requests for protection,” HRW said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the five attacks documented by the rights group, but eyewitnesses are the fighters, who, as HRW says, can be recognized by the turbans they wear.

The Telapiri region is set Burkina Faso and Mali, and it was a pivotal point of rebellion over the past decade.

Niger – along with its neighbors, who was also ruled by the army – formed an alliance to fight jihadists and expand the scope of relations with the West, and moved to Russia and Turkey instead to meet their security needs.

But violence continued, as they put them under pressure to reach more effective strategies to address violence.