Armed men killed at least 22 civilians in southwestern Niger on Sunday, three sources said, less than a week after unidentified assailants killed 58 villagers in the nearby region of Tillabery.
The attackers raided three villages in the Tahoua region, which borders Mali. A security source said Islamic State fighters were responsible, while two local sources did not say who was behind it.
Islamic State's local affiliate is active in the zone and has been blamed for previous attacks that killed dozens of civilians and soldiers.