At least 40 people have been killed in another attack in Niger, when a group of armed assailants ravaged several villages in the Tahoua region near the border with Mali, the government said on Monday.

Government spokesperson Abdoulraman Zakaria said on Monday that soldiers were sent to the region and fought the attackers.

It was not known who was behind the attack.

Numerous armed groups are active in Niger and in neighbouring Sahel countries. Some have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State, while others are linked to al-Qaeda.

The government has little control over the desert areas outside the cities, a situation which is exploited by jihadist groups and criminal networks such as people smugglers.

In the Mali border region, there have been recurring attacks.

On March 16, at least 58 people were killed in an attack on market traders in the region of Tillaberi, the government said.

Niger has also seen demonstrations after the recent presidential election.

At the end of February, the electoral commission declared former foreign minister Mohamed Bazoum, a close ally of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, the winner with almost 56 per cent of the vote.

Former president and opposition candidate Mahamane Ousmane slammed the result as fraudulent and claims he is the winner.

The Constitutional Court on Sunday confirmed Bazoum’s victory. (dpa/NAN)