Akpabli Januarius
Gunmen attacked worshippers at prayer and killed at least 15 people and injured two others in the village of Essakane in the Catholic Diocese of Dori, in Burkina Faso in what seemed to be a “terrorist attack”.
Information gathered revealed that no terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to a church official, the gunmen were suspected to be Islamic militants.
Laurent Birfuoré, the Bishop of Dori Diocese, said that “militants attacked the few remaining faithful in the area may have fled the area”. The attack took place around 08.30 am on Sunday 25 February 2024. The jihadists broke into the small village church where a Sunday Prayer Service was taking place under the direction of the Catechist. In fact, since 2018, the majority of the community of believers have been forced to flee due to the violence of jihadist groups. “Few people are left who, in the absence of a permanent priest, gather on Sundays for a Prayer Service led by a Catechist”, the Bishop added. “The Jihadists shot at the men while sparing the women; 12 died while three died at the local health centre as a result of their injuries. Two others survived with serious injuries”
According to the Washington Post, the Islamic militants have frequently attacked remote communities and security forces especially in the northern region of Burkina Faso. It also noted that half of Burkina Faso is outside government control as radical Islamist groups have ravaged the country for years.
The authorities have been battling Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, which have taken over large swathes of land and displaced millions of people in the Sahel region. In the last three years, churches have been targeted and scores of worshippers killed.
This is just the latest in a series of atrocities blamed on terrorist groups active in the region, some of which have targeted Christian churches while others have involved the abduction of clergy.
Acta Diurna 