Islamic Militants Murder at Least 58 in Attacks Targeting Christians in Burkina Faso
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Targeting Christians, Islamic militants in Burkina Faso murdered at least 58 people in attacks carried out on May 29 and 30, the Christian Post reported. Burkina Faso has been besieged with armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State for more than four years.
The UK-based aid agency, Barnabus Fund, said last month’s attacks took place in the Loroum, Kompienga, and Sanmatenga provinces of the desperately poor country.
A local source in Sanmatenga province told Barnabas that militants had not only targeted Christians directly, but also attacked a truck carrying humanitarian aid to a camp for displaced people that housed many Christians. According to a survivor of the attack, the driver of the truck pleaded with militants, shouting: “‘forgive, forgive, we are also followers of the [Islamic] prophet Muhammad.’” Barnabas said six civilians and seven soldiers had been killed before this particular attack then ended.
On May 29, a convoy of traders was attacked on its way from Titao to Sollé in Loroum province. Children were included. On May 30, militants fired indiscriminately at a cattle market in Kompienga and killed at least 30 people, the Christian Post reported.
According to the Associated Press, Jihadist violence in Burkina Faso has now infested the Boucle du Mouhoun region where rice and maize are produced and transported to other parts of the area: this could result in food shortages that may affect millions of civilians.
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