[3] Tillabéri Region, which is in the west of Niger and borders Mali and Burkina Faso, is largely unstable and has been used as a hideout by various Sahel jihadist groups including the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS).

[4] Since 2018, these terrorist groups have spread throughout the Sahel region, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of military personnel and civilians in sporadic attacks.

[6] Despite this, parts of Tillaberi and Tahoua Regions remain under a state of emergency and the French government warns people against visiting vast areas of Niger.

[5][7] The shooting occurred around 11:30am (10:30 GMT) six kilometres (four miles) east of the town of Kouré, Kollo Department, Tillabéri Region, where a wildlife park is located.

Seven of the victims were shot dead, while the French woman who initially escaped was later kidnapped and murdered; an empty magazine was found at the scene.