A respected Quranic teacher from Tonka, Abdoul Salam Maïga, was forcibly taken from a gathering with friends near the local market by armed jihadists belonging to the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). Witnesses reported that the militants returned shortly after, blindfolding their victim before executing him in a public display of violence.

Locals are divided over the motive behind the killing. Some speculate it may stem from religious disagreements, suggesting Maïga may have refused to collaborate with the armed group. However, the prevailing view among residents points to his perceived association with Malian security forces as the likely trigger for this brutal act.

This incident echoes a pattern of targeted violence that has shaken the Tombouctou region. Earlier this year, Mariam Cissé, a young social media influencer known for her pro-military stance, was similarly executed in public. In late March, Amadou Baby, a youth organization leader in Tonka, was gunned down in broad daylight, with jihadists accusing his group of providing intelligence to Malian forces—a claim disputed by some residents who note the absence of military installations in the area.

Residents of Tonka, Diré, Goundam, and Tombouctou have expressed shock and outrage, describing the killings as a deliberate campaign to instill fear across the region. The escalating violence underscores the deepening humanitarian crisis gripping northern Mali.