Seven Ghanaian tomato traders were killed in a suspected jihadist attack in Burkina Faso’s Titao area, sparking outrage and renewed calls for tighter border security.
Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, confirmed that the traders were attacked when their supply truck reached Titao on February 14. Militants reportedly stormed the town, targeting both soldiers and civilians.
Men separated and shot
According to the minister, the attackers gathered residents, particularly targeting men. The Ghanaian traders were reportedly separated from the women before being shot. The assailants then allegedly set the truck on fire, burning the victims.
“Seven of the men died and their bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” Mubarak told Joy FM. Three others sustained injuries, including one woman who remains in critical condition.
The extremist group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa-al-Muslim (JNIM), known for frequent attacks in the region since 2019, often claims responsibility for assaults around Titao and Ouahigouya. However, no official claim has yet been confirmed in this case.
Bodies decomposing amid blocked access
Authorities reported that access routes to the area have been blocked due to ongoing insecurity, making it difficult for officials to retrieve the bodies. The minister said Ghana’s embassy officials have been asked to witness the burial once access is secured.
Burkinabe authorities have reportedly assured Ghana that the victims will be buried promptly, as the bodies have begun decomposing. Military escorts are expected to facilitate the safe evacuation of the injured and other survivors to Ouagadougou.
The Ghana Tomato Traders Association expressed shock, stating that traders travelling to Burkina Faso for tomatoes and onions have long faced risks, but this attack was unprecedented in its brutality. The association has urged the government to strengthen protection along border routes to prevent further tragedies.