At least 10 people have died and 45 churches and homes of religious, have been destroyed in Niger these past few days, as violent protests rage across the West African nation. 

At least 10 people have died and 45 churches and homes of religious, have been destroyed in Niger these past few days, as violent protests rage across the West African nation. 

 

 

The protests started on Friday, January 16th. They stated over cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad, that were published recently on the special issue of  French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The same magazine where 12 people were killed by Islamic terrorists the first week of January. 
 
On Monday, the government confirmed that the ten people who died, were mostly inside Nigerien parishes. The government issued a three day mourning period and has promised to find those responsible. 
 
The country has a population of roughly 17 million people, out of which 80 percent is Muslim.