Burkina Faso‘s General Staff confirmed that the country’s “Seventh Group of National Police Mobile Intervention Units” came under attack near the town of Diougo-Yorga in Kolpelogo province, close to the Togo border, by a group of terrorists.
The statement detailed that five police officers lost their lives during a reconnaissance mission, while four others sustained injuries and received medical care.
In retaliation, the security forces neutralized at least 40 terrorists and seized their equipment. The authorities have initiated clearing operations to ensure the security of the area.
Kolpelogo province, situated in the central-eastern region, witnessed a jihadist attack earlier this month. As per local security and community sources, about 20 individuals were killed in Nouhao near the city of Peto on August 7th.
Ibrahim Traore, the head of the military council who seized power in a coup in September 2022, condemned the terrorists’ “cowardice”, acknowledging the increasing frequent attacks on civilians.
Since 2015, Burkina Faso, which experienced two military coups last year, has been spiraling into a cycle of jihadist violence that initially emerged in neighboring Mali and Niger and has since spread beyond their borders.
According to a non-governmental organization’s tally, more than 16,000 individuals, including civilians, soldiers, and police officers, have been killed in jihadist attacks, with over 5,000 casualties reported this year alone.
