Panic in Niger as Explosions, Gunfire Hit Airport Area
Explosions and heavy gunfire rocked Niamey, Niger’s capital, in the early hours of Thursday, triggering panic among residents near the city’s main international airport.
TRT Afrika reports that the blasts and sustained shooting erupted shortly after midnight around Diori Hamani International Airport.
Residents said the violence shattered the calm in the city, with gunfire lasting for nearly two hours before easing.
Videos shared online showed flashes of light across the night sky, loud explosions, rising flames and several vehicles burnt and destroyed.
People living in neighbourhoods close to the airport said normalcy began to return around 2am, while sirens were heard as fire trucks moved towards the area.
The airport, about 10 kilometres from the presidential palace, houses an air force base and also serves as a military facility.
It is the headquarters of a joint force involving Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, created to combat terrorist groups across the Sahel.
Authorities have yet to announce the cause of the incident or confirm whether there were casualties.
Niger has been under military rule since 2023, following the overthrow of the elected civilian government by General Abdourahamane Tiani.
The country later expelled French and United States forces that had been assisting with counterterrorism operations.
Meanwhile, a pro-government online activist, Ibrahim Bana, posted a video on Facebook urging residents to take to the streets to “defend the country”.
The incident occurred amid persistent security challenges in the country.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project shows that nearly 2,000 people were killed in Niger in 2025 in attacks linked to terrorist groups.
Reports have also indicated that a large uranium shipment with an undisclosed buyer, transported from northern Niger in late November, has remained at the airport for several weeks.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
