Government spokesperson Abdourahamane Zakaria said on national TV that reinforced security and health measures have been taken in the area and an investigation has been opened. He also announced a three-day national mourning to pay tribute to the victims.
It is the second deadly attack on Nigerien civilians in a week. On March 15, unidentified gunmen attacked and killed at least 58 civilians returning from a weekly market near the Malian border, according to Zakaria.