A weekend assault by the jihadist organization Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in Burkina Faso has resulted in the deaths of four government militiamen, with their weapons stolen.
JoyNews correspondent Eliasu Tanko reported from the Upper East Region that the event took place on Saturday, August 23, in Bittou, a town located near the Ghanaian border in the Bawku Municipality, raising alarms about the persistent security crisis in the area.
The deceased were part of the Volunteers for the Protection of the Fatherland (VDP), a civilian auxiliary force established by the Burkinabe government to assist its regular military in combating a relentless and lethal insurgency.
Military sources in Burkina Faso acquainted with the situation stated, “A small team of VDP ventured into the bush and encountered hostile individuals [jihadists]. This was a grave mistake.”
This incident signifies yet another deadly escalation in the region and follows a concerning trend of similar occurrences. JNIM, a notable al-Qaeda affiliate active in the Sahel, has also taken responsibility for a June attack in Mongade, close to Kulungugu, and another in March in Garanga, near Nware in Ghana’s Pusiga District.
These recurrent incursions emphasize the unstable security landscape along the shared border between Burkina Faso and Ghana.
In response, Burkinabe security and defense forces have initiated sweep operations along the borders with Ghana and Togo. The confirmed presence of the jihadist group in the border region highlights the cross-border nature of the threat and the risk of conflict spillover.
The ongoing operation seeks to neutralize threats and restore stability to the affected communities.
