A 57-page report by Amnesty International, published on Monday, revealed that 544 civilians have died due to conflict-related violence in Niger’s western Tillabéri region between 1 January 2021 and 29 July 2021, eclipsing 2020’s number of 397.

Growing insurgency from Islamist militant groups, such as the ISGS (Islamic State in the Greater Sahara) and JNIM (the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims), has also claimed the lives of 60 children in the area.

Amnesty’s investigation identified boys aged 15-17 as the prime targets for guerilla groups, who use incentives such as food, money and clothes to lure them into combat.

One boy, in his early teens, narrowly survived an armed group attack in his village: “We all are used to hearing gunshots and to seeing [dead] people layered on top of [dead] people”.

Speaking to SABC News, Amnesty International’s researcher on children and armed conflict, Janine Morna, says 377 schools have been closed, and 31,000 children are out of education: “Both groups [ISGS and JNIM] have a position against secularism or western education. They have targeted schools, attacked teachers, and it’s led to unprecedented school closures.” 

Young women and girls are also being targeted, with many being taken as “wives” for fighters. 

Morna comments further: “They’ve also left women in these areas almost completely invisible. So women are often not allowed to participate in activities outside of the home; so they can’t do things like farm, collect firewood, or go to the market.”

Amnesty forecasts the situation to worsen without “urgent action” from the government and international forces.