Di attack for Niamey na attempted coup but under control - Niger authorities tok

Entrance of Diori Hamani International airport Niamey

Wia dis foto come from, ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images

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Niger state-run television don describe di attacks for Niger capital, Niamey, as attempted coup, but say di situation dey under control.

State media tok say di incident happun for Base 101, one military facility for di city.

Earlier reports say di mutineers bin try to detain military personnel for di base and dem fire gunshots on several sensitive locations for Niamey.

Heavy gunshots and explosions blast across parts of Niger capital, Niamey early mormor on Saturday, according to eyewitnesses. Dem say serious fight happun near Diori Hamani International Airport, di military Base 101 and di presidential palace.

One Niamey resident tell BBC say dem begin hear gunfire and explosions since around 1:00 am.

E say di shooting dey happun for one military base for Niamey near di kontri airport.

Di state broadcaster bin briefly go off air earlier on Saturday but don since resume television and radio broadcasts.

Nigerian authorities don ask residents to remain calm and return to dia normal activities.

Posts on social media show as residents dey react to di sounds of di gunfire wey dem link to di incidents for parts of Niamey.

One security source tell Reuters say di attackers bin target di airport and try to breach di security perimeter around di presidency.

One AES parliament member say security forces don regain control of Air Base 101 and e describe di attackers as "terrorists".

BBC neva independently verify di claim.

Niger military authorities for dia initial reaction, don ask di pipo for di capital, Niamey, to remain calm afta reports of heavy gunfire and explosions for several parts of di city.

Di National Council for di Safeguarding of di Homeland (CNSP) on Saturday morning tok say dem don "mobilise Defence and Security Forces to defend di nation."

Dem also say make kontri pipo "remain united, vigilant and supportive" and urge dem to "remain calm and stop dey share unverified information."

Authorities neva tok who dem believe say dey behind di reported attack. Also, no official details on casualties or damage.

However, reports don point to di Islamic State of Sahel affiliate, but e no dey confirmed.

Di motive for dis attack and di identities of dos wey get hand for inside neva dey clear, also informate neva dey on di full extent of di damages and if casualties dey.

E also neva dey clear if di attack get connection wit attempted coup or insurgent attack.

Dem don target di airport and nearby military base two times already dis year. Di Islamic State attack di site for January, while al-Qaeda wey dey linked to JNIM bin claim responsibility for di one wey happun for June.

Di military stop di two attacks.

Diori Hamani International Airport na one Niger key security installations and e dey serve as both civilian airport and as military base.

Di airport also dey host facilities wey dey connected to di Alliance of Sahel States (AES), one security and political alliance wey comprise Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Na military junta dey govern di three countries wey seize power afta years of political instability and growing jihadist violence across di Sahel.

Niger military govment don step up operations against jihadist groups and dem don record some security successes in recent months. But attacks continue, particularly for western Niger and near di border wey dem share wit Mali and Burkina Faso.

Niger don dey under military rule since one July 2023 coup wey General Abdourahamane Tiani lead.

Niger has been under military rule since a coup in July 2023.