Escalating violence in Niger’s Tillabéri region, particularly along the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, is increasingly targeting children—killing them, forcibly recruiting them, and leaving survivors traumatized, according to a new report. This crisis has worsened since early 2021, with armed groups committing war crimes and severe human rights violations.
In a 64-page document titled “I Have Nothing Left but Myself”: The Growing Impact of Conflict on Children in Tillabéri, researchers detail how armed factions like the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM)—linked to Al-Qaeda—are systematically destroying lives, education, and food security in the region.
In Tillabéri, Niger, an entire generation is growing up surrounded by death and destruction.
Matt Wells, Amnesty International
Children in these areas face relentless threats. Armed groups have targeted schools, food reserves, and civilians, often using motorcycles to launch surprise attacks. Survivors describe harrowing scenes of mass killings, forced marriages, and abductions—especially of girls and women who are now restricted from leaving their homes.
deadly attacks and child recruitment surge
Since January 2021, violence in Tillabéri has surged, with civilian deaths rising from 397 in 2020 to 544 in 2021, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). Over 60 children have been killed in Niger’s portion of the tri-border zone this year alone, with ISGS suspected of orchestrating most large-scale massacres.
Survivors recount chilling encounters. A 13- or 14-year-old boy shared: “We are used to gunfire and seeing bodies piled up.” Another, whose 12-year-old friend was murdered, described recurring nightmares of being chased by masked men on motorcycles.
Meanwhile, the GSIM has intensified child recruitment in Torodi, near the Burkina Faso border. Teenagers as young as 15—sometimes younger—are lured with promises of food, money, or clothing. Recruits undergo brief weapons training (lasting weeks to months) and are deployed as scouts, spies, or lookouts—roles that constitute direct participation in hostilities under international law.
education and healthcare under siege
Armed groups oppose what they call “Western education,” burning schools and threatening teachers. By June 2021, 377 schools in Tillabéri had closed, displacing over 31,000 children from education. In rural areas, many school buildings—often made of thatch—are easily torched. A 15-year-old from Mogodyougou explained: “Teachers fled… they would have been killed otherwise.”
The healthcare system is also collapsing. Armed factions have looted medical centers, while government restrictions on movement and humanitarian access have worsened health outcomes. Immunization rates have plummeted, and diseases like measles are spreading unchecked.
food insecurity and forced displacement
ISGS has systematically destroyed food stocks, burned granaries, and stolen livestock during raids, leaving families destitute. A mother of seven from Zibane described the devastation: “Everything was burned… I have nothing left but myself.” Satellite imagery confirms these targeted attacks, which have displaced tens of thousands, emptying entire villages.
Both ISGS and GSIM also impose “taxes” on civilians—often violently. Humanitarian groups warn that 2.3 million people in the region could face food insecurity due to conflict, drought, and flooding.
psychological toll on children
The constant threat of violence has left deep psychological scars. Few children receive psychosocial support, and many suffer from nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, and loss of appetite. The sound of motorcycles—commonly used by attackers—triggers traumatic memories. A 15-year-old displaced boy pleaded: “We need peace, real peace. The government must care about our lives—food, water, and schools.”
Experts emphasize that urgent action is needed to restore access to education and mental health services for children trapped in this crisis. Matt Wells of Amnesty International warned: “Niger is on the brink. Authorities and international partners must act now to give children the tools to build a future.”
understanding the crisis
The conflict began in Mali in 2012 before spreading to Burkina Faso and Niger. Armed groups now vie for control of border regions, clashing with Niger’s military and regional forces, including troops from Chad and France. In 2021, an estimated 13.2 million people across these countries require humanitarian aid, with 1.9 million displaced.
how the report was compiled
Amnesty International’s team interviewed 119 people, including 22 children and 36 parents or affected adults. They also spoke with NGO workers, UN representatives, and government officials to document the crisis comprehensively.