AFRICA. Burkina Faso: During a double bomb attack, a group of persons suspected to be Jihadists killed 15 Soldiers in the northern part of Burkina Faso.
The army said in a statement, “The attackers who came with an improvised explosive device attacked the troops along the Bourzanga-Djibo axis in the Centre-North region.”
The toll of the two incidents was 15 soldiers killed and one wounded. And also caused material damage. The tragedy occurred while the troops were on an escort mission headed by the military unit of the 14th inter-army regiment (RIA), the statement added.
“One vehicle in the convoy conveying fighters jumped on an explosive device near the town of Namsiguia, in the province of Bam. While rescue and security operations were being organized, a second device was activated from a distance, causing many victims,” the army said.
According to the army, “Reinforcements were immediately dispatched to the scene of the incident to ensure the evacuation of victims and security operations are currently underway in the area”.
Meanwhile, in another related development, 10 civilians including four volunteers of the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP) were reportedly killed by the members of the jihadists also in northern Burkina, according to local media.
Last Thursday, nine army auxiliaries and four soldiers were killed in an attack on a unit of the military detachment of Bourzanga (north) which was coordinating an offensive action with a group of VDP, the statement reads.
It is gathered that earlier this year, the military took off power from the civilian government, assuring the citizens of utmost protection of lives and property making jihadists their priority.
In recent times seen multiple attacks by the jihadist just like in other countries governed by the civilian government. According to official figures, over 40 per cent of Burkina’s territory is outside state control.
On 24 January, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba overthrew President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, who was accused of being unable to curb jihadist violence.
However, the attacks by the jihadists which are targeting civilians and the military have in the recent month multiplied.
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