Residents and witnesses of a massacre in a Burkinabe town reported 136 deaths on Saturday, including women and newborns, and blamed the nation’s security services for the attack on April 20.
Following reports that individuals wearing the uniforms of the Burkinabe armed forces had killed close to 60 civilians, a prosecutor last week opened an investigation into the massacre that occurred in the northern village of Karma and its surrounding areas.
As the nation fights armed militants linked to al Qaida and the Islamic State, the attack, one of the worst on civilians, has sparked condemnations and requests for an investigation by the United Nations Human Rights Office.
Over the past ten years, a violent Islamist insurgency that originated in Burkina Faso’s neighbor Mali has spread throughout several West African countries, displacing more than 2 million people and claiming thousands of lives.
The military administration of the nation has begun a massive attack that it claims is intended to retake huge areas of territory held by armed militants.
Joy was crushed.
In a statement on April 27, the administration denounced the attack on Karma, but it made no mention of any casualties.
Since then, new information has come to light.
The community was besieged early on April 20 by highly armed individuals wearing Burkinabe military uniforms, riding motorbikes, pick-up trucks, and armored vehicles, according to a statement released by the locals and survivors on Saturday.
The statement added that they have tallied 136 civilian deaths and nine civilian injuries. “The villagers initially rejoiced at their arrival, but their joy was quickly shattered by gunfire,” the statement claimed.
The army and the government of Burkina Faso did not reply to Reuters’ request for comment on Saturday.
“We are not duped,”
Speaking at a press conference in Ouahigouya, the province capital located around 15 kilometers (9.32 miles) from Karma village, a representative of the inhabitants and survivors claimed the government’s comments bordered on disregard and contempt for the people of Karma.
According to him, the statement creates ambiguity regarding the security and defense forces’ involvement in the massacre.
According to the statement, “We, the population and survivors of the events of Karma and [its] surroundings, have no doubt that the security and defense forces are to blame for this carnage.” “We are not duped; we are familiar with our security and defense forces.”
Reuters
