A significant influx of displaced individuals has overwhelmed the town of Téra in western Niger. The surge in arrivals, both in the city and surrounding areas, stems from villagers fleeing their homes in southern districts since late last month.

The village of Diagourou, located just 10 kilometers from Téra, has been completely evacuated. Reports confirm that fighters from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) have ordered residents from nearly 30 surrounding villages to leave immediately. This area lies within the volatile Liptako-Gourma region, where the borders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger converge—a hotspot for both JNIM and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahel (ISGS).

Displaced families face dire living conditions

Testimonies from the ground reveal that displaced families—including women and children—are living in extreme hardship in Téra. Many are forced to sleep outdoors on unoccupied plots or rely on temporary shelter with host families.

While precise numbers remain unavailable, local sources estimate that thousands have fled from the villages in Diagourou alone.