JNIM claims killing of 200 soldiers, seizure of Burkinable military camps in Djibo and Sollé
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected militants of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group, have claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks on military camps in Djibo and Sollé in northern Burkina Faso, reportedly killing over 200 soldiers and seizing weapons, vehicles, and military equipment.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, is described as one of the deadliest in Burkina Faso’s history, according to reports from the Intelligence Group website, which monitors jihadist propaganda online.
The jihadists, in a statement circulated on affiliated channels, claimed they overran two military outposts after simultaneous assaults on a detachment and police stations in Djibo, forcing residents into hiding and causing large-scale devastation.
Among the weapons and logistics reportedly seized by the militants were four military vehicles, two mortars, nine rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), 20 PK machine guns, 206 assault rifles, 416 loaded magazines, 16 motorcycles, and a Starlink satellite internet device, in addition to other military and intelligence materials.
The Burkinabe government has yet to officially confirm the casualty figures or the full scale of the attack.
However, local sources say the assault mirrors previous operations by JNIM, including the late March offensive in Diapaga, eastern Burkina Faso, near the borders with Niger and Benin, where several dozen troops and civilian volunteers were killed.
