Nigerian troops detain suspected terrorists following attack at Niamey airport.

Nigerien security forces carried out a series of arrests after an explosion and gunfire incident at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey on Thursday.

Security analyst Brant Philip said arrests are still underway in parts of the city, focusing on people suspected of working with those responsible for the airport attack.

In a post on X, Philip noted that security operations continue across the capital and warned that such crackdowns can sometimes lead to the detention of innocent individuals or mob attacks on people without verified links to the incident.

The arrests come amid heightened security measures following heavy gunfire and explosions that shook the airport area earlier on Thursday, causing panic among residents and prompting troops to be deployed to strategic locations throughout Niamey.

Security sources reported that the disturbance began in the early hours, with gunfire lasting for more than two hours. Authorities had not issued an official statement as of press time, leaving the exact nature of the incident unclear.

Residents were advised to stay indoors while security forces set up cordons around key sites, including the Hospital Roundabout, and heavily armed troops and military vehicles were positioned at checkpoints leading to the Presidential Palace.

Diori Hamani International Airport, located about 10 kilometres from the Presidential Palace, also houses Air Base 101, one of Niger’s most important military facilities. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and no group has claimed responsibility as of this report.