Militants kill 170 people in northern Burkina Faso

In a horrifying incident, approximately 170 people, including women and children, were "executed" in attacks on three villages in Burkina Faso.

Public Prosecutor Aly Benjamin Coulibaly has launched an investigation into the attacks that occurred in Yatenga province on February 25th, Caliber.Az reports, citing BBC.

The villages targeted were Komsilga, Nordin, and Soro.

The identity of the attackers remains unknown, and authorities are seeking witnesses to aid in apprehending those responsible for the brutal assault. The massacre is unrelated to recent violence in other parts of the country, such as attacks on religious institutions and army bases.

The warning of increased militant threats, including potential attacks on urban centers, was separately issued by army chiefs. The country, grappling with internal strife, has seen over a third of its territory under insurgent control since the military seized power in 2022.

Burkina Faso is facing one of the world's most neglected crises, with rampant insecurity displacing over two million people and causing widespread hunger. Despite promises from the military to quell rebel activities, violence persists, and the Institute for Economics and Peace notes the central Sahel region as the new epicenter of terrorism.