| Fambita mosque attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of thejihadist insurgency in Niger | |
| Location | Fambita,Kokorou,Tillabéri Region, Niger |
| Coordinates | 14°20′7″N0°54′5″E / 14.33528°N 0.90139°E /14.33528; 0.90139 |
| Date | 21 March 2025 |
| Deaths | 44 |
| Injured | 20 |
| Perpetrator | Islamic State – Sahel Province (suspected) |
On 21 March 2025, an armed assault targeted amosque in the southwesternNiger town ofFambita,Kokorou, resulting in at least forty-four fatalities and thirteen injuries. TheNigerien government subsequently declared a three-daynational mourning period. Security authorities attributed responsibility for the attack to theIslamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP).[1]
The attack occurred in the Fambita district ofKokorou, a rural community situated nearNiger's southwestern border withBurkina Faso andMali, which had been deemed a focal point of anIslamic State andal-Qaeda-linkedjihadist insurgency.[2] According to government statements, armed assailants surrounded themosque duringRamadan prayer services in the early afternoon hours. The attackers randomly shot at worshippers. TheMinistry of Interior characterized the attack as displaying "unusual cruelty" in its execution. Beyond the human casualties, perpetrators alsoset ablaze the localmarketplace and several residential structures.[1][3][4][5]
At least 44 people were killed. Twenty people were injured, with 13 people being severely injured and four people being critically injured.[2][5][6]
Following the attack, Niger's military government instituted a three-day national mourning period. While no group claimed responsibility, Government officials released formal statements through both Niger's Ministry of Interior andMinistry of Defense officially attributing responsibility toIslamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP), and issued public commitments to pursue the perpetrators and bring them to justice.[1] Minister of the InteriorMohamed Toumba described the attack as a "cowardly and inhumane act".[6]United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsVolker Türk said that the attack violatedinternational human rights law andhumanitarian law.[5]