Massive displacement in western Niger as armed groups force villagers to flee

Local reports indicate a massive surge of displaced individuals in the western Niger town of Téra. The population has swelled significantly as people from southern villages within the department have been forced to seek refuge in the urban center and its outskirts since late last month.

The commune of Diagourou is reportedly being deserted. According to multiple sources, militants from Jnim (the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims) issued orders for residents in approximately thirty villages to evacuate. Located just ten kilometers from Téra—a strategic garrison town hosting Defense Zone No. 9—Diagourou sits on the right bank of the Niger River. This “three borders” region, shared with Burkina Faso and Mali, remains a volatile area under pressure from both Jnim and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS).

Dire humanitarian conditions for the displaced

Eyewitness accounts describe the situation in Téra as extremely precarious. Many displaced families, including numerous women and children, are currently living in the open air. Some have set up temporary shelters on vacant land, while others have been taken in by local host families.

While precise figures regarding this latest wave of displacement are not yet available, the villages within the Diagourou commune are home to thousands of residents, suggesting a large-scale humanitarian challenge and a significant displacement in western Niger.