Picture used for illustrative purposes only.

Soldiers were arrested in Niger after an "attempted coup" early on Wednesday, a security source said after gunfire broke out in the capital Niamey, adding "the situation is under control".

"There were some arrests among a few members of the army who are behind this attempted coup," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The Presidential Guard retaliated, preventing this group of soldiers from approaching the presidential palace," said the source.

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Earlier, residents of Niger's capital Niamey said on Wednesday they heard shots, two days ahead of the swearing-in of president-elect Mohamed Bazoum, including from heavy weapons, during the night in a district that includes the presidency.

"It was around 3:00 am, we have heard shots from heavy and light weapons and it lasted 15 minutes before stopping, followed by shots from light weapons," one resident of Niamey's Plateau district, which includes the president's official residence and offices, told AFP.

"The gunfire lasted about 20 minutes," another resident said.

The government of Niger was not immediately available to comment.

There have been growing attacks by militants, and political tensions in the country following the Bazoum's victory in a February presidential election runoff. Former president Mahamane Ousmane, who lost in the runoff, has rejected the results and said there was fraud.