A local official told AFP news agency that the attackers arrived in Motagatta village in the Tillaberi region on motorbikes on Sunday and started shooting people.

It is not clear who were behind the attack and the Niger junta is yet to comment about it.

But such killings are common in Niger where jihadist insurgencies have risen since 2015.

Nearly 40 soldiers were killed last year in separate attacks near the border with Burkina Faso.

Military leaders who carried out last year's coup justified their actions citing the poor security situation.

In December, the coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, said the situation was "progressively normalising" after what he called the army's multiple successes in quelling unrest. But the attacks have continued.

French troops have left Niger after being ordered out by the country's military leaders.