Segun Atanda/
Residents in Niamey, the capital of the Republic of Niger, reported hearing heavy gunfire and loud explosions in the early hours of Thursday near the city’s main international airport, according to multiple news agencies citing eyewitness accounts.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show flashes of light and blasts illuminating the night sky, while some images depict fires and wreckage near the airport area.
The disturbances began shortly after midnight local time and continued for around two hours before calm returned by early morning, residents told journalists.
The Diori Hamani International Airport houses a military air base and is located about 10 kilometres from the presidential palace, making it a significant strategic site for Niger’s security forces.
At this stage, the cause of the gunfire and explosions remains unknown.
There has been no official statement from the military government, which has ruled Niger since a coup in 2023, and no confirmation of casualties or damage from authorities.
The incident comes amid ongoing security challenges in Niger and the wider Sahel region, where armed groups have been active in recent years.
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