At least ten civilians, including four army auxiliaries, were killed Monday in an attack by suspected jihadists in northern Burkina Faso, security and local sources said.
On Monday morning, “the locality of Sima, in the commune of Seguenega – Yatenga province (north) – was the target of a terrorist attack,” said a security source. “Four VDP (Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland, civilian auxiliaries) and six civilians were killed.” “Several wounded were also recorded,” the source said.
The attack was confirmed by a local VDP official who did not give a precise toll, but said that “several volunteers are still missing.”
“The attack was repulsed at the gates of Seguenega by elements who received reinforcement” from the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), according to the official, who said that “the attack had caused a massive flight of inhabitants” from the commune. However, he said, they had begun to return “certainly after seeing the army’s aerial response”.
Last Thursday, nine army auxiliaries and four soldiers were killed in an attack by suspected jihadists against a unit of the military detachment of Bourzanga (north) which was coordinating an offensive action with a group of VDP, according to the army.