At least eight people have been killed in Niger after gunmen linked to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) launched an attack on a gendarmerie unit in the town of Doubalma.
The assault took place on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at around 12:40 local time, when a unit from the Damissa mission was deployed to provide security at the weekly market in Doubalma, located about 58 kilometres north of Doutchi in the rural commune of Soucoucoutane.
According to security sources, a group of heavily armed men riding motorcycles stormed the area and opened fire on the gendarmes present. The attack left eight people dead — seven members of the defence and security forces (FDS) and one civilian. Three others were injured, while one gendarme remains unaccounted for.
Witnesses reported scenes of chaos as traders and residents fled for safety. The assailants also destroyed equipment at the site, setting one vehicle ablaze and seizing another before withdrawing from the area.
The attack underscores the continued threat posed by armed groups operating in the Sahel region, where security forces and civilians have faced repeated assaults on markets, villages and convoys.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement, but the incident is expected to prompt renewed calls for tighter security around rural markets, which are often vulnerable to such attacks.
About The Author
