Residents of Niger’s capital were jolted awake in the early hours of Thursday as heavy gunfire and powerful explosions erupted near the Diori Hamani International Airport.
The incident, which began shortly after midnight, centred around a neighbourhood adjacent to the airport a strategic location that houses a major Nigerien air force base and sits approximately 10 kilometres from the presidential palace.
According to local witnesses, the exchange of fire lasted for roughly two hours before a precarious calm was restored to the area. Resident-filmed footage captured streaks of light across the night sky, accompanied by the thundering sound of explosions, while images emerging from the scene at daybreak showed flames rising several meters into the air and rows of charred, destroyed vehicles.
As of Thursday morning, there has been no official word on the number of casualties or the specific cause of the unrest. Government officials have yet to release a formal statement clarifying whether the incident was an attempted coup, a localised mutiny, or a targeted strike by insurgent groups.
The proximity of the gunfire to both the air force base and the seat of government power has heightened tensions in Niamey, a city that remains on high alert following the night’s violence.
