Abdoul Salam Maïga, a Quranic teacher at a medersa in Tonka, was enjoying a quiet conversation with friends in his traditional gathering spot near the market when armed jihadists from the Jnim group stormed in. They forcibly took him away, returning minutes later with a blindfolded Maïga, who was then executed in broad daylight.

Local leaders suggest multiple motives behind the killing. Some speculate it may stem from religious disputes, with rumors that Maïga refused to cooperate with the group. However, the prevailing view among residents points to his alleged ties with Malian security forces as the primary reason for his execution.

Tonka has become a focal point of escalating violence in the Tombouctou region. Just months earlier, the area was shaken by the public execution of Mariam Cissé, a social media influencer known for her vocal support of the Malian military.

In late March, another violent incident rocked the community when Amadou Baby, a youth organization leader in Tonka, was gunned down in the street. While some claim his association provided intelligence to Malian forces, others note that Tonka lacks a military presence, leaving motives shrouded in uncertainty.

Residents describe a climate of fear gripping the region. “In Tonka, Diré, Goundam, and Tombouctou, people are stunned by these killings,” said a local. “The shockwaves are felt across the entire area.”