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The violence has affected several parts of the country and continues to raise security concerns around key locations like airports and border areas.
There was panic and confusion on Thursday morning after gunshots were heard close to the airport in Niamey, the capital city of Niger Republic.
According to reports, the first round of shooting started around 6:00 a.m. at the entrance of the airport. The gunfire was said to have continued for some time and later resumed again about two hours afterward, causing fear among residents and airport users.
People in the area were said to have been alarmed by the sound of gunfire, as security was quickly increased around the airport and surrounding roads. Details about who was responsible for the shooting were still unclear at the time of the report.
This incident comes only a few months after a serious attack in January at the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey.
That earlier attack was linked to fighters associated with the Islamic State group in the Sahel region. It was reportedly stopped by Nigerien soldiers with support from allied Russian forces.
After the January attack, authorities carried out large-scale demolitions of illegal buildings in a nearby neighbourhood. Officials said the area had been used by armed groups to hide and plan attacks on the airport.
Niger has been dealing with insecurity for many years, especially from armed groups connected to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State operating across the Sahel region of West Africa.
The violence has affected several parts of the country and continues to raise security concerns around key locations like airports and border areas.
