Yet-to-be identified gunmen suspected to be terrorists have allegedly killed six French tourists alongside two Nigeriens visiting a giraffe reserve in Niger on Sunday, August 9.
The Koure Giraffe Reserve, around 40 miles southeast of the capital Niamey, is a popular attraction in Niger.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the tourist group were in the Koure region which attracts tourists who want to see the last herds of giraffe in West Africa.
Speaking on the incident, the governor of Tillabéri region, Tidjani Ibrahim told the French news agency AFP that the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire at the group in a giraffe reserve in the Kouré area.
“They were intercepted and killed,” he said, confirming that six French people and two Nigeriens died.
A source who prefers anonymity told AFP that the tourists were riding in a vehicle that belonged to the French humanitarian organization ACTED when they were attacked at around 11:30 am.
The tragic incident that French nationals had been killed in Niger has reportedly been confirmed by French President Emmanuel Macron’s office.
It was also reported that French President, Macron spoke on the phone with his Niger counterpart Mahamadou Issoufou on Sunday and no further details about the telephone discussion were revealed.