At least 25 people killed in terrorist attack in Niger

Niamey: At least 25 people have been killed in a terrorist attack on two communities in the West African state of Niger. The heavily armed perpetrators attacked the towns of Tebaram and Bakorat in the west of the country, not far from the border with Mali, Interior Minister Alkache Alha said late on Wednesday. Numerous buildings, including health centres and a town hall, had been burned down, Alha said. Several armed groups are active in Niger and other countries in the Sahel region.Some have pledged allegiance to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network or the IS terrorist militia.In Niger, with its 23 million inhabitants, there are repeated heavy attacks, especially in the regions bordering Mali. The government has little control in the desert-like expanses outside the cities - which is exploited not only by jihadist groups but also by criminal networks.