Eight people including six French and two Nigeriens were killed on Sunday August 9 by armed men who came on motorcycles in the Kouré area in Niger, which is home to the last herds of West African giraffes, according to a source. official.

"There are eight dead: two Nigeriens including a (tourist) guide and a driver, the other six are French", declared the governor of Tillabéri, Tidjani Ibrahim Katiella. "We are managing the situation, we will give more information afterwards," said the governor, who did not give details of the circumstances of the attack, nor of the identity of the attackers.

Tourists shot dead

"The attack took place around 11:30 am (10:30 am GMT) 6 km east of the town of Kouré" which is an hour's drive from Niamey on the national road number 1, explained de for its part, a source close to environmental services.

"Most of the victims were shot dead and a woman who managed to escape was caught and slaughtered. On the spot, a magazine emptied of its cartridges was found," said this source.

"We do not know the identity of the attackers but they came on motorcycles through the bush and waited for the arrival of the tourists. The vehicle borrowed by the tourists belongs to the NGO Acted".

With AFP

The summary of the week France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR