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Videos that appear to be from the scene captured loud blasts and
the sky glowing following explosions that began around midnight
and lasted about two hours in the area of Diori Hamani
International Airport, a key military hub for the Nigerien army.
The Associated Press could not independently verify the videos
that also showed military trucks and fires.
It was not immediately clear what led to the explosions and
gunshots or if there were casualties or damage. Niger’s militay
junta, which has run the country since a 2023 coup, did not
immediately speak about the incident.
One resident said he learned gunmen attacked the airport but
were repelled by soldiers. The resident, who lives in the
airport district, spoke on the condition of anonimity for fear
of his life. The AP could not independently verify the
resident's account.
Calm appeared to have returned to the city Thursday morning.
The international airport in Niamey houses a military base and
has held a significant shipment of uranium from Niger's mines
meant for export.
Niger has struggled to contain deadly jihadi violence that has
battered parts of Africa’s Sahel region, where neighboring
Burkina Faso and Mali also are run by military juntas.
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