By Nathan Morley

Although Niger's government was not immediately available to comment on the atrocity, a police source said around 49 villagers were killed and many others injured in the village of Tchombangou.

Around 30 other people were killed in Zaroumdareye, a nearby village.

The region sits on the borders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where over 4,000 people have died from terrorist violence over the last year.

The killings occurred as election officials announced results for the first round of the country’s presidential vote.

These are the latest attacks to rock the troubled western Tillaberi region, which saw seven Nigerian soldiers killed in an ambush just before Christmas.

Last week, the United Nations Secretary-General called on the security forces in Niger to “make every effort” to protect civilians as they took part in elections.