The Nigerien government evokes "serious leads" for its investigators. Interior Minister Alkache Alhada announced that a suspect was arrested after the assassination of eight people, including six French aid workers, by armed men near Niamey.
Young French aid workers, two men and four women, were murdered on August 9 with their Nigerien driver and guide, while visiting the Kouré giraffe reserve, 60 kilometers southeast of the capital where they were based.
“For the moment, a suspect is in the hands of the Central Counterterrorism Service (of Niger) and investigations are continuing. We are in the process of exploiting a certain number of equipment which he has and which he was able to use, ”Alkache Alhada declared Tuesday evening.
Information that should lead to "positive results"
According to the first elements of the anti-terrorism investigation opened in Paris, the murderous attack "seems to have been premeditated" with the aim of "targeting Westerners". In Niger, France sent six investigators from the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), two others belonging to the anti-terrorism sub-directorate and three members of the technical and scientific police (PTS). They all returned to Paris on Saturday.
“We are currently on serious leads, leads that can lead us to the perpetrators of these acts […] We have certain information which gives us indications on the probable actors of these horrible crimes […] and we think that is fine with us lead to positive results, ”he continued.
Asked about Paris' decision to place all of Niger in the red zone with the exception of the capital Niamey, Alkache Alhada replied: "We cannot say that it is nice". “Nigeriens found this measure unfair and they demonstrated it at various levels. I say that it is a decision of a sovereign State which intends to protect its fellow citizens and here too it is legitimate ”he explained, wishing that“ this measure be lifted as soon as possible ” .
Finally, the Nigerien minister paid a vibrant tribute to Acted, which employed the victims. "(The NGO) admittedly suspended its activities for the moment, but made a commitment to continue its activities in the country anyway". The minister also praised the memory of the killed Nigerian guide, who according to him, "was not only a guide, it was also a protector of the giraffes who (there) spent all their life".
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Six French aid workers from Acted killed with their guides in Niger
