An attack on a Burkina Faso military base in the northern town of Djibo resulted in the deaths of 200 soldiers, according to a claim from Al Qaeda affiliate Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), as reported by the SITE Intelligence Group on Thursday.
The attack took place on Sunday morning, with both a police station and local market also targeted in the assault, security sources confirmed to Reuters. While the government has not officially released a death toll, several Djibo residents reported that dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed in the violence.
SITE, an organization that monitors online activity of Islamist militant groups, quoted JNIM’s statement confirming responsibility for the attack. The group has been increasingly active in the region, with its operations resulting in significant casualties over the past month.
Previously, JNIM’s leader in Burkina Faso, Ousmane Dicko, had appeared in a video urging Djibo residents to evacuate for their safety.