The Ghanaian government has confirmed the death of seven Ghanaian tomato traders who were caught in a violent terrorist attack in northern Burkina Faso last Saturday.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak announced the fatalities on Monday, stating that the victims were among a group travelling in a truck that was ambushed during an assault on the town of Titao. At least four other Ghanaian nationals sustained injuries in the attack.
Speaking on Joy FM, Mr. Mubarak detailed the harrowing events of February 14, explaining that armed fighters stormed Titao and began targeting male residents and travellers.
“The jihadists ran into the town and started rounding up almost everybody, especially the males, targeting to kill every male just on sight,” the Minister said. “They separated the males from the females and went on the street and sprayed, killing almost all the males.”
The vehicle involved was carrying 10 men and eight women. According to the Minister, seven of the men lost their lives, while three others sustained injuries. One woman was seriously hurt, but the remaining seven women escaped without major physical harm.
Due to the deteriorating condition of the bodies and the ongoing security threat in the region, Burkinabè authorities received approval to proceed with burials on the morning of February 16. Mr. Mubarak noted that Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Ouagadougou was unable to travel to Titao to witness the interment as the area remains unsafe.
To ensure accurate identification, the government has confirmed that DNA samples were taken from the victims prior to burial. This process will be aided by the surviving women, who personally knew the deceased and have already provided their names to officials.
“We have lists. The women who went with them knew who were there, who had lost their lives, who are alive and receiving treatment,” Mr. Mubarak stated. “We do not want to mix it up, so that is why we are working with DNA to do some confirmations.”
Plans are underway for the Burkinabè military to escort the survivors and the injured from Titao to Ouagadougou. They will be formally handed over to officials at the Ghanaian Embassy before arrangements are made for their repatriation.
In an emotional appeal, Mr. Mubarak urged the public to refrain from sharing graphic images and videos of the victims on social media. He warned that some families are learning of their relatives’ deaths through these distressing posts before any official notification.
“Please, for heaven’s sake, do not be sharing it, do not be posting it,” he pleaded. “Put yourself in the shoes of their families. If this is posted, that your loved one is dead, and this is how bad his body is, will you be happy?”
The Minister also placed the attack within the context of the wider security crisis gripping the Sahel region, noting that such incidents claim an estimated 80 lives daily across the area. He emphasized the need for regional cooperation, pointing to a recent security summit convened by President John Mahama in Accra as a crucial step toward addressing the transnational threat.
“This is something that no one can deal with alone,” Mr. Mubarak said. “Our citizens are intermarried, they intertrade, they will move. So let us work together to deal with this as a sub-region.”
