Over 13,000 flee Niger’s terrorism-hit western region

More than 13,000 women and children have fled islands on the Niger River in western Niger following strings of deadly attacks staged by terrorists, state radio “Voix du Sahel” said.
The radio indicated that Women and children fleeing the remote islands have sought safety in Ayorou, a town 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the Nigerien capital Niamey.
State-run media blamed “atrocities… (by) “armed bandits”, a term typically used for suspected jihadists.
Local sources also blame ethnic violence in the area. Last Saturday, four civilians were killed in Dessa, a town in the region, also a theater of atrocities committed by bandits.
Niger’s western region which also includes Tillaberi province near the border with Burkina Faso and Mali, is grappling with a jihadist insurgency.
The country is also grappling with jihadist insurgents from Nigeria, in its South-east region.