Gunfire and explosions were reported overnight in Niger's capital Niamey, according to an Associated Press witness and local media, as reported by infohub.kz.
The shooting began after midnight at the Diori Hamani International Airport, which hosts a major military base. An AP witness, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said it was the third time this year the airport has experienced such unrest.
Local media also reported gunshots in the Plateau administrative district, where the Presidential Palace and key institutions are located.
The ruling military council, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, said the military has been deployed. In a Facebook post, they stated: "Our Defence and Security Forces are mobilized for the Defense of the Fatherland. Let us remain united, vigilant and supportive."
The cause of the gunfire and explosions was not immediately clear, although a local lawmaker called it a "cowardly attack." The airport area had been attacked twice by jihadis in recent months, adding pressure to Niger's struggling military junta.