International Desk: Gunmen on motorbikes have raided several villages in southwestern Niger, killing at least 137. On Sunday, gunmen carried out a brutal massacre in three villages bordering Mali in West African country of Niger. The country's government announced this on Monday (March 22). Khabar Al Jazeera.

Gunmen on motorcycles stormed three villages on the border with Mali, Intazayeni, Bakorat and Wistane. They fired indiscriminately. At least 137 people were killed in the attack, according to local officials. Earlier, they said 70 people had been killed. On Monday, they said the death toll had risen to 137.

In a statement on state television, Nigerian government spokeswoman Zakaria Abdurrahman said civilians and vulnerable villagers were now being targeted by armed bandits. They shoot at everything which moved. On Sunday, 137 people died in the bloodiest violence to hit the country in years.

For Niger's newly-elected president, Mohamed Bajum, gun attacks have been a challenge. Now it remains to be seen how he handles such attackers. Who have been carrying out such killings for many years.

According to the United Nations, Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world. Hundreds of people are killed every year in gun attacks in the country's Mali and Nigeria border areas. More than five lakh people have been displaced.

Sun News