By: Ollus Ndomu
Scores of civilian Burkinis died in a Friday night massacre which followed a fire believed to have been set by Islamic militants, the government said Saturday, June 5.
The mass killing which left atleast 114 civilians murdered has been described as “barbaric” and “despicable” by Burkina Faso President, Roch Marc Christian Kabore.
AFP says the massacre happened on Friday night in a border area that is between Mali and Niger. The border area is famous for housing Islamist fighters linked to Al-Qaida and the “Islamic State” (IS) terrorist groups.
According to a source on the scene, Islamist fighters first opened fire at the civilian defense force in Solhan village (border area) in the Sahel’s Yagha province and proceeded to setting homes ablaze and “executed” individuals.
With little training, the attacked civilian force was put in place two years ago to help Burkina Faso military forces in the continued battle against jihadis.
Government has in a statement described the attack as worst recorded to date:
“In addition to the heavy human toll, the worst recorded to date, homes and the market were set on fire.” Another security source said the “still temporary toll of a hundred dead may increase.”
Burkina Faso has since deployed forces to remove maintain peace as they bury bodies whose massacre has attracted a three day national mourning.
Jihadi attacks have persisted in the west African country since 2015.
