DAKAR (Reuters) - Eighteen civilians were killed when their transport vehicle came under attack in a part of western Niger frequently targeted by Islamist militants, the government said on Tuesday.

       Interior Minister Alkassoum Indatou attributed Sunday's attack in the Tillaberi region, near the border with Mali, to "armed bandits, aboard several motorcycles, who have not yet been identified."

       He said in a statement that 13 of the victims were from the village of Foney Ganda and five from the village of Tizegorou.

       Local officials have blamed a series of massacres of civilians since last year on Islamic State's affiliate in West Africa, which along with al Qaeda-linked militants has been responsible for spiralling violence across the Sahelian countries of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

       (Reporting by Bate Felix; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Bill Berkrot)