Gunmen depart corpses ‘burnt past recognition’ in horror terror assault
Gunmen looted and torched shops during the terrifying massacre that left 20 people dead in northern Burkina Faso. The attack has been claimed by the JNIM – an Islamist militant group linked to al-Qaeda
20 people lost their lives in the horrific attack(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A horrific terror attack has left 20 people dead and corpses “burnt beyond recognition” as a security organisation claimed “hundreds” of armed jihadists took part in the horrific shooting spree.
Witnesses said the armed attackers destroyed vital infrastructure, looted and burned shops and raided supply trucks. The victims included seven Ghanaian nationals who were part of a team of tomato traders. The shocking attack has been claimed by the JNIM – Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin – an Islamist militant group linked to al-Qaeda.
The grim slaughter happened in Titao in northern Burkina Faso on 13th February. Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Ghana’s interior minister, has spoken of the horrific scenes explaining “bodies were burnt beyond recognition.” He added: ”They went on a shooting spree, killing almost all the males there, burning them together with the truck.”
Numerous Islamist attacks have taken place in northern and eastern Burkina Faso in the past few days. Burkina Faso is currently ruled by a military junta, the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR).
The movement is led by Interim President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, 37, who seized power in September 2022. Despite the brutal attack an army spokesman has insisted the situation is under control.
Lt Col Abdoul Aziz Ouedraogo told state run media: “Multiple attacks took place on Saturday in the north of the country. Our forces demonstrated valour and professionalism, inflicting a heavy defeat on the terrorists and neutralising several dozen of them.”
The army spokesperson said witnesses saw the gunmen divide into three groups. One group attacked a military camp, another destroyed telephone facilities and the final group looted and burned shops and attacked supply trucks.
An unnamed security source speaking to AFP claimed “hundreds” of armed jihadist attacked the military camp, leaving the camp partially destroyed. Ouedraogo – Burkina Faso’s capital – said the attack followed recent military operations in the north and Sahel regions, which had forced militants to regroup westwards.
Following the attack Ghana’s interior minister announced they were engaged with Burkinabè authorities who were planning on burying the Ghanaians killed in the attack. Ghana’s interior minister added other Ghanaian nationals who were not injured in the attack have been asked to witness the burial.
The minister added: “The women who sustained minor to no injuries have been asked to witness the burial of the dead to capture and document the process.”
The minister added Burkinabè authorities also offered military assistance to “create a safe passage to move the unharmed women and the injured to our mission in Ouagadougou after the burial”.
The horror terror attack is the latest unrest in the country as Islamist militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have increased their presence in Burkina Faso. Recent years have seen the extremist organisations expanded across the Sahel region, displacing millions as a result of killing thousands.
