Niger junta accuses France, Benin and Ivory Coast of backing airport attackers

Residents in Niamey, Niger’s capital, were jolted awake by hours of heavy gunfire and explosions near the city’s international airport in the early hours of Thursday, an incident that left many shaken and searching for answers.

People living close to Diori Hamani International Airport described the barrage of shots and booming blasts beginning shortly after midnight and continuing well into the night. What started as confusion quickly turned to fear as the noise echoed through neighbourhoods, forcing families to huddle together and wait anxiously for the sounds to stop.

One local woman recounted how she clutched her children and prayed as the intermittent gunfire rattled windows and streets. Another resident, Ibrahim Boubacar, described the surreal atmosphere neighbours peering out of front doors, unsure whether the sounds were fireworks, a power system failure, or something far more dangerous.

As dawn approached and the gunfire subsided, confusion remained. By Thursday morning, officials had not released a clear explanation for the violence, and there was no immediate word on whether the shooting resulted in injuries or casualties. The lack of official information left many in the city unsettled and searching for clarity about what had just happened so close to home.

The airport isn’t just a civilian travel hub it also hosts military installations in a country that has long battled extremist violence and regional instability. Niger’s political and security landscape has been tense for several years, and the sudden outbreak of gunfire near such a key location underscored lingering fears about safety and stability in the capital.

For those who lived through the night, the experience was frightening and unforgettable, a stark reminder of how quickly security can be disrupted and how deeply those moments resonate in everyday lives.