GUNMEN KILL 6 FRENCH AID WORKERS AND 2 NIGERIENS
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists on Sunday, August 9, killed 6 French aid workers, a Nigerien guide and a driver in Niger.
The incident happened near Kouré, about 80 kilometres south-east of Niamey at around 11.35 am when the criminals who arrived on several motorcycles opened fire on the vehicle conveying the aid workers.
The victims died of gunshot wounds while a woman who tried to escape was slaughtered, local sources say.
The gunmen also set ablaze their vehicle.
There are indications that the victims, 7 of whom work for an NGO called ACTED, were targeted.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
ACTED CONDEMNS THE SENSELESS KILLING OF ITS AID WORKERS
ACTED, the humanitarian NGO whose members were killed in Sunday’s attack has condemned the incident describing it as a senseless and cowardly act.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the death of seven of our colleagues as well as their guide in Niger who were senselessly and cowardly murdered by armed individuals in the Kouré area, south-east of Niamey, on August 9 2020,” ACTED said in a statement released on its website.
READ ALSO: ARMED FORCES IN NIGER INTERCEPTS SUSPECTED SAHEL TERRORISTS ON TRANSIT TO NIGERIA
Below is the full statement released by ACTED
It is with profound grief that we confirm the death of seven of our colleagues as well as their guide in Niger who were senselessly and cowardly murdered by armed individuals in the Kouré area, south-east of Niamey, on August 9 2020.
ACTED and IMPACT Initiatives condemn in the strongest terms the senseless and barbaric killing of our colleagues and their guide. At this tragic moment, our thoughts are with their families and loved ones at home and in Niger. All of our teams across the world join in their grief.
We request that the media and the general public respect the dignity and the privacy of the victims.
Aid workers must never be a target. Our colleagues have been working to support the people of Niger facing hardship, driven by values of humanity and solidarity.
This heinous crime must not go unpunished, nor will it distract us from our commitment to support the people of Niger.
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