Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Niamey, Niger — A husband and wife were shot dead this week when armed assailants stormed a church late at night in Mailo village, located in the Dosso region of southwest Niger, sending worshippers fleeing in panic and underscoring the ongoing security crisis confronting the Sahel nation. The attack took place around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, as Christians were attending a late‑night service, according to local residents and international news agencies reporting from the region.
Witnesses described a scene of terror as the gunmen entered the modest church and began firing into the air, causing congregants to scatter in fear. In the chaos that followed, the couple attempted to escape the violence by fleeing to their home, but the attackers pursued them and fatally shot them inside the residence. “They ran and hid in their house, but the assailants followed them and they were killed,” one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters.
Other worshippers managed to flee into nearby bushland or reached neighbouring villages, according to accounts from locals in the affected area. Some community members said the attackers also stole livestock before withdrawing from the scene, compounding the fear and uncertainty gripping Mailo village in the aftermath of the assault.
The Dosso region, like much of southwest Niger, has been affected by insurgency and violence linked to jihadist groups operating across the Sahel, a vast semi‑arid belt that stretches from Senegal to Sudan. Armed groups with alleged ties to Al‑Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) have been responsible for numerous attacks on civilians, security forces and places of worship in recent years. Niger’s military government, which seized power in a 2023 coup, has struggled to contain these groups despite ongoing counter‑insurgency operations, leaving many rural communities exposed to attacks.
The couple’s deaths add to a grim tally of civilian casualties in Niger this year. According to conflict monitoring data cited by analysts, nearly 2,000 people have been killed as a result of violence linked to jihadist and militant activity in the country in 2025 alone, highlighting the persistent threat faced by ordinary citizens.
Despite generally peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims in Niger, places of worship have occasionally been targeted by militants, particularly in border regions where control is contested and security presence is limited. Attacks on churches have occurred in nearby regions in the past, though the scale and frequency vary according to the shifting tactics of armed groups and the intensity of military operations in those areas.
The deadly assault in Mailo village sparked immediate alarm among local residents, many of whom were already living under the spectre of insecurity. Community leaders expressed deep sorrow and outrage at the loss of life, urging authorities to step up protection for vulnerable populations, especially during gatherings such as religious services that draw people together. Some families reported that the victims were well‑known and respected members of the village, making the attack’s impact on the tight‑knit community all the more profound.
Following the incident, displaced worshippers and residents sought refuge in surrounding settlements and fields, reluctant to return home as dusk approached. The psychological toll of the attack was evident in the faces of survivors and neighbours, who described hearing the gunfire and seeing neighbours flee into the darkness.
Security forces in Niger have not yet released a detailed statement about the Mailo village attack or identified specific perpetrators, but Nigerien authorities typically respond to such incidents with increased patrols and occasional public reassurances that investigations are underway. In similar past attacks, government officials have attributed violence to extremist militants seeking to destabilise the region and undermine state authority.
The assault highlights broader challenges for Niger’s security apparatus. The country’s armed forces, though bolstered by international training and equipment, remain stretched thin as they confront multiple insurgent factions while grappling with limited resources and complex terrain. Analysts say that rural communities like those in Dosso are particularly vulnerable because of their distance from major military installations and the difficulty of sustained protection in isolated areas.
Humanitarian groups and local advocates have repeatedly emphasised the urgent need for enhanced civilian protection measures, including early warning systems, community‑based defence initiatives, and stronger coordination between local leaders and security forces. The goal of these efforts is to reduce the incidence of attacks on gatherings such as worship services, markets and social events where civilians are most at risk.
International partners engaged in counter‑terrorism efforts in the Sahel have also called for renewed focus on stabilisation and civilian security alongside military operations. The region’s complex dynamics — involving armed groups, porous borders and socio‑economic grievances — complicate efforts to restore lasting peace, and experts argue that a combination of development support, improved governance and strategic security deployment is necessary to protect vulnerable populations.
For the bereaved family and community of Mailo village, the loss of the couple is a painful reminder of the human cost of the ongoing violence that continues to afflict parts of Niger. As residents mourn and pray for peace, the quest for answers and accountability grows more urgent, echoing the broader hopes of many Nigeriens desperate for an end to the cycle of fear and bloodshed.
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