In Kobontafa, a neighborhood bordering Niger’s international airport in Niamey, residents are hastily dismantling their own homes in anticipation of imminent demolitions. Roofs, doors, and windows are being removed as authorities push forward with a sweeping operation targeting unauthorized structures within the airport’s perimeter.

The crackdown follows a terrorist assault on January 29 against the Diori Hamani International Airport and a nearby military drone base. Investigations revealed that attackers had infiltrated the restricted zone through adjacent informal settlements, prompting authorities to address this critical security gap.

According to official figures, nearly 26,000 people residing in four unauthorized districts face displacement as part of the enforcement drive. These densely populated areas occupy vital sections of the airport’s buffer zone and are deemed high-risk by security officials.

Niger has been grappling with escalating violence from Al-Qaïda and ISIS-affiliated armed groups, particularly in regions bordering the capital. The January attack, claimed by the Islamic State in the Sahel (IS Sahel), was repelled by national forces with support from allied units, resulting in the deaths of 20 militants and injuries to four soldiers. Critical infrastructure sustained damage during the assault.

Days after the incident, General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of Niger’s ruling junta, acknowledged a breakdown in security protocols that allowed the assault to unfold. He confirmed that the attackers’ primary objective was to cripple the nation’s aerial defense capabilities.

Colonel Amadou Abdramane, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, confirmed that demolitions will focus on the airport’s eastern perimeter—a zone illegally occupied and identified as the entry point used by militants during the attack.

The Interior Minister, General Mohamed Toumba, warned that the persistence of these informal settlements creates persistent infiltration risks. He cautioned that unresolved security gaps could jeopardize the airport’s compliance with international aviation safety standards.

Officials have pledged compensation for displaced residents, contingent upon registration in an ongoing census. Meanwhile, security enhancements are underway, including an expanded perimeter fence and the installation of over 350 surveillance cameras across the airport grounds and surrounding areas.

At the national level, authorities have intensified public awareness campaigns, urging citizens to report suspicious activities or individuals through dedicated emergency hotlines.