A local Islamic teacher in Tonka, Abdoul Salam Maïga, was forcibly taken from a community gathering spot and executed by armed jihadists from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) in a public display of violence.

Eyewitnesses report that the militants blindfolded the teacher before shooting him in broad daylight, sparking widespread fear across the Tombouctou region. Some speculate that his refusal to comply with jihadist demands or alleged ties to Malian security forces may have triggered the brutal act.

This latest incident follows a pattern of targeted killings in Tonka and surrounding areas. Earlier this year, a young social media influencer known for her support of the Malian military was publicly executed in the town square. Months prior, a youth leader in Tonka was gunned down in a street ambush, accused by militants of collaborating with state forces despite the absence of a nearby military base.

Residents describe the growing climate of terror, with locals in Tonka, Diré, Goundam and Tombouctou living in constant fear of arbitrary violence. ‘People are horrified by these executions,’ shared a longtime resident. ‘The entire region is trembling with fear.’