Eleven people have been killed in a suspected jihadi attack on three trucks and a motorcycle in western Niger near the border with Mali, local sources told AFP on Sunday.

The attack took place on a remote road in the so-called “three borders region” between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which has been plagued by jihadist insurgents linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

A local government official in the Banibangou area where the attack took place said gunmen intercepted three trucks on a remote road on Saturday morning, killing their nine occupants.

Two motorcyclists also died, he added.

A local lawmaker also confirmed the figure of 11 dead and said two of the trucks burned and the other was taken away.

Banibangou, located in western Niger’s vast and unstable Tillaberi region, has seen fewer attacks by militants in recent months.

Civilians were often involved in fighting between rebels and security forces. In November 2021, authorities said at least 69 local self-defense militiamen were massacred.