A public prosecutor in Burkina Faso has disclosed that approximately 170 individuals, including women and children, were ‘executed’ in assaults on three villages,” reports say.
Aly Benjamin Coulibaly has urged witnesses to come forward to assist in the investigation of the attacks on Komsilga, Nordin, and Soro.
Meanwhile, the military has cautioned about the heightened risk of Islamist attacks, including those targeting urban areas.
Despite the army’s assumption of power in 2022, insurgents control over a third of Burkina Faso’s territory.
An investigation into the village attacks in Yatenga province on February 25 has been initiated by Mr. Coulibaly.
According to AFP, numerous women and children were among the casualties, although the perpetrating group remains unidentified.
These attacks are reportedly unrelated to recent incidents of violence, such as assaults on religious sites and military installations elsewhere in the nation.
In response to the increased threat, the army chief has urged soldiers to remain vigilant against potential suicide attacks and large-scale assaults on security forces in cities.
Burkina Faso is facing severe humanitarian challenges, with more than two million people displaced due to widespread insecurity and significant malnutrition rates, particularly among young children.
Despite the military’s pledge to combat insurgents after seizing power, violence persists.
According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, the central Sahel region, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has become the new epicenter of terrorism, signaling a shift away from the Middle East.
Source-BBC
