170 People ‘Executed’ In Burkina Faso Village Attacks, Official Report.

By Caroline Ameh
A regional prosecutor in Burkina Faso over the weekend revealed chilling details of attacks on three villages in the country’s northern region, stating that approximately 170 individuals were “executed” during the assaults. The violence unfolded amidst a backdrop of escalating jihadist activities within the junta-ruled nation.

The attacks, which occurred on February 25th, saw additional bloodshed in eastern Burkina and the north, with separate incidents targeting a mosque and a Catholic church, resulting in numerous casualties.

Aly Benjamin Coulibaly, the regional prosecutor based in the town of Ouahigouya, disclosed receiving reports regarding the assaults on the villages of Komsilga, Nodin, and Soroe in Yatenga province. He provided a preliminary estimate of around 170 deaths, alongside injuries and property damage. Coulibaly underscored the urgency of an investigation into the matter, urging the public to contribute any relevant information.

Survivors recounted the grim toll of the attacks, which included women and young children among the victims.

While the precise perpetrators remain unconfirmed, local security sources emphasized that these attacks were distinct from other deadly incidents on the same day, notably targeting a mosque in Natiaboani and a church in Essakane.

Burkina Faso has grappled with a persistent jihadist insurgency linked to factions affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State since 2015, originating from neighboring Mali. This ongoing violence has resulted in nearly 20,000 fatalities and displaced over 2 million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in one of the world’s poorest nations situated in the volatile Sahel region.

Frustration over the government’s inability to address the insecurity has fueled unrest, culminating in two military coups in 2022. President Ibrahim Traoré has prioritized combating rebel groups amidst this turmoil.

Recent attacks on February 25th targeted various military installations, prompting swift retaliatory measures by the army and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP), a civilian auxiliary supporting security efforts. Security sources reported the neutralization of numerous terrorists during these operations.

Mahamadou Sana, the security minister, characterized the wave of attacks as “coordinated,” attributing the shift in tactics to successful strikes against terrorist infrastructure and supply networks.