Amnesty International says attacks by terrorists in western Niger republic have worsened, with children increasingly targeted.
A report by the Human rights group noted that the conflict in the Tillaberi region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, is having a shocking impact.
It added that over 500 civilians died between 1 January and 29 July this year from conflicts in the region, above the 397 people killed in 2020 and that about 60 children have been killed by armed groups in the tri-border area.
According to Amnesty, One terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda (JNIM) has intensified its efforts to recruit boys to its ranks, adding that the group lures young boys aged between 15 and 17 by using incentives such as food, money, and clothes. It noted that hundreds of schools in the Tillaberi region have been closed as a result of the violence.
The report however, accuses Niger’s republic security forces of not only failing to protect civilians, but also themselves committing abuses.
