The Islamic State in Sub-Saharan Africa (EIGS) has claimed responsibility for a deadly ambush that left 17 soldiers and six civilian drivers dead in the Sahel region of northern Burkina Faso.
The attack occurred on Sunday near Katchirga village, situated between the towns of Dori and Seytenga, targeting a convoy transporting goods to Niger. In a statement released on Tuesday, EIGS described the ambush as “precise,” boasting of inflicting heavy casualties.
Expert in counter terrorism and security in lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, reports that the ambush led to the destruction of five military vehicles, with three additional vehicles disabled. Four soldiers remain unaccounted for following the attack.
The convoy was being escorted by a joint team of Nigerien and Burkinabe military personnel, and sources confirm that casualties were also recorded on the Burkinabe side, although specific details are yet to be disclosed.
Eyewitnesses recount that the attackers, heavily armed, executed the ambush with speed and precision, overwhelming the convoy.
The assault underscores the persistent insecurity plaguing the Sahel region, which remains a hotspot for extremist violence.
