On August 20, 2021, Assailants attacked a mosque in Theim, Tillabéri Region, Niger, killing at least seventeen people. The massacre occurred several days after the August 2021 Darey-Daye massacre, where militants killed over 37 people.
Background At the start of 2021, the Islamic State – Sahel Province, a predominantly Fulani organization based in the tri-border area between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, began attacking civilian areas, especially with non-Fulani populations. The first major attack was the Tchoma Bangou and Zaroumdareye massacres that killed 105 people, and later the March 2021 Darey-Daye massacre. On August 16, ISGS fighters killed over 37 people in Darey-Daye again, along with killing thirty-three Malian soldiers during the battle of Tessit.
Massacre The militants opened fire on civilians in Theim who were performing Friday prayers on August 20. The town's mayor, Halido Zerbo, gave a death toll of sixteen while a Nigerien security source stated the death toll was seventeen. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, although ISGS is active in the area.
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