麻豆约拍

The government in Niger says the number of people now known to have been killed in attacks on Sunday by suspected Islamist militants is 137.

Three villages were targeted in the western Tahoua region, close to the border with Mali.

Niger is facing an unprecedented onslaught of attacks by Islamist militants who carry out hit-and-run raids on isolated villages using motorbikes and pick-up trucks.

So why is this happening?

Adam Sandor researches armed conflict, stabilization, and armed groups in Africa.

"This group is extremely predatory and doesn't really provide any type of governance function to the population of the Sahel... We can understand this attack as a sort of reprisal attack because of the collaboration that localised militias were providing to the Niger security and defence forces."

(Photo: map of the area. Credit: 麻豆约拍)