In northern Burkina Faso, about 50 women are kidnapped by suspected jihadists

About 50 women were kidnapped on Thursday January 12 and Friday January 13 by suspected jihadists in Arbinda, in northern Burkina Faso, local officials and residents of this region told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

According to the testimonies of several residents and local officials who wished to remain anonymous, a first group of about forty women was kidnapped about ten kilometers southeast of Arbinda, and another group of about twenty women the next day in the north of this commune. Some fled and returned to their villages and testified.

“The women gathered to go pick leaves and wild fruits in the bush because there was nothing left to eat.”One of the residents explained that they left in their vehicles on Thursday.

“Thursday evening, we didn’t see them come back, we thought their vehicles had a problem, but three survivors came back to tell us what happened.”Another resident added.

An area besieged by jihadist groups

According to him, the next day, 8 km north of Arbinda, about twenty women were kidnapped, who had not been informed of the first abduction.

“In both groups, the women managed to escape the terrorists’ vigilance and walk back to the village.”It is to explain. We believe the kidnappers took them to their different bases.is completed.

According to local officials who confirmed the kidnappings, the military and their civilian aides searched the area to no avail.

The municipality of Arbinda is located in the Sahel region, in northern Burkina Faso, an area under siege by jihadist groups and hardly supplied with food. The United Nations says nearly a million people currently live in besieged areas in the north or east of the country.

Burkina Faso, especially in its northern half, has been facing since 2015 attacks by jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which are increasing. They have left thousands dead and at least two million displaced.

Captain Brahim Traoré, the transitional president from the military coup of September 30, 2022 – the second in eight months – has set out his goal of “Reclaim the territory occupied by hordes of terrorists”.