12 Burkinabe soldiers, 4 volunteers killed in terrorists’ attack

An attack by Islamic terrorists on a military unit in Burkina Faso Friday killed at least 16 security forces and injured many others, the army announced.

A dozen military soldiers and four volunteer fighters who work alongside the army died when their military unit was attacked at 5 a.m. in Namissiguima town in the Center North region, said a statement by the armed forces.

An additional 21 soldiers were wounded and equipment was also damaged, said the statement.

The Friday attack involved a car bomb and was carefully planned, according to security analysts.

Burkina Faso is grappling with rising jihadi violence linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group that’s killed thousands and displaced some 2 million people.

This is the latest in a series against the military.

At least 40 security forces were killed in the last two weeks of March according to an internal security report for aid groups.

Civilians living in nearby towns without military support say they’re worried the violence is going to spread.

“Namissiguima is the only place that has a military detachment around here,” said a resident of the nearby Kongoussi town who insisted on anonymity for his safety.

“We hope the attacks don’t expand.”