French Prime Minister Jean Castex led tributes to six French aid workers who were killed by suspected jihadists in Niger, as their bodies arrived in Paris on Friday.
The four women and two men were killed on Sunday alongside their Nigerien guide and driver, in the southeast region of the capital, Niamey.
Castex was joined at the Orly airport by high-profile dignitaries from the French government in a ceremony to receive the bodies, including French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti and Junior minister for Tourism Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.
“It’s important that the nation pays homage to them,” France 24 quotes Jerome Bertin, the head of France Victimes federation.
“Their families want their commitment to be really cited… they were not tourists killed in Niger but young people engaged in helping the people of this country.”
Reports indicate that the attack happened around 11.30 am (1030 GMT) six kilometers (four miles) east of the town of Koure.
The vehicle that the French nationals were traveling in belonged to the French Humanitarian organization ACTED.
