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The death toll from a jihadist attack on two villages in western Niger at the weekend stands at 105 , the UN added on thursday that 10 ,000 people in the area had fled their homes.
Local officials previously said 100 people were killed in Saturday ’ s twin assaults, the highest civilian toll in the Sahel since jihadists launched a revolt in northern Mali in 2012 before advancing into Niger and Burkina Faso .
Jean- Sebastien Josset, spokesman for the UN ’ s High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ) in the capital Niamey , said 32 people had been killed in the village of Zaroumadareye and 73 in Tchouma Bangou .
Twenty- six people suffered bullet wounds and “ hundreds ” of grain and forage stores were torched, he said.
“ The number of people who have fled is now estimated at more than 10 , 000 ,” he told AFP , explaining that there had been an exodus from 12 other villages to the towns of Tondi Kiwindi and Mangaize.
“ The Nigerien authorities are providing primary aid , distributing food and money ,” he said.
Scores of militants arrived on motorbikes to attack the villages , located in the jihadist -plagued region of Tillaberi , 120 kilometres ( 75 miles ) north of the capital Niamey .
The region lies in the lawless “ triborder” area , where the frontiers of Niger , Mali and Burkina Faso converge .
Thousands of civilians in the three countries have lost their lives in the long – running conflict and more than three million have been displaced , according to the UN .
Niger , which is between two rounds of presidential elections , is also fighting jihadists in the southeast of the country , who cross from neighbouring Nigeria .
AFP
Roqeeb Onijo
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