The attack occurred in the Fambita district of
Kokorou, a rural community situated near
Niger's southwestern border with
Burkina Faso and
Mali, which had been deemed a focal point of an
Islamic State and
al-Qaeda-linked
jihadist insurgency. According to government statements, armed assailants surrounded the
mosque during
Ramadan prayer services in the early afternoon hours. The attackers randomly shot at worshippers. The
Ministry of Interior characterized the attack as displaying "unusual cruelty" in its execution. Beyond the human casualties, perpetrators also
set ablaze the local
marketplace and several residential structures. At least 44 people were killed. Twenty people were injured, with 13 people being severely injured and four people being critically injured. == Responses ==