A city in eastern Burkina Faso was the target of a large-scale attack by suspected insurgents earlier this week, during which prisoners were freed, significant destruction was inflicted, and terrified residents were forced to remain indoors, local sources reported on Thursday.
The assault on the city of Diapaga marks the second major insurgent operation in just two days, raising alarm in the West African nation, which has long struggled with armed militant activity. Although such violence is common in rural areas, urban assaults remain relatively rare.
Eyewitnesses said that dozens of armed individuals arrived in Diapaga on motorcycles on Monday, launching coordinated attacks on a military camp and a gendarmerie post before taking control of key areas of the city for several hours.
“There was gunfire for hours. People have been hiding in their homes ever since,” a resident told. “The insurgents were the only ones outside. No one else dared to move.”
A security source confirmed that Diapaga was “the target of a major terrorist attack” that resulted in “significant material damage.” An operation has been launched to track down those responsible and to restore order in the area, the source added.
Residents reported that the attackers torched several public buildings and businesses and released detainees from the local prison, which included individuals previously arrested for suspected links to insurgent groups. Some videos, allegedly filmed by the assailants, appear to show the prison break, though their authenticity remains unverified.
Witnesses also noted the destruction of monuments and widespread looting by the attackers, who arrived “in large numbers.”
This latest violence comes on the heels of a deadly assault in the northern city of Djibo just a day earlier, where hundreds of militants reportedly attacked military and police facilities, killing dozens of soldiers and civilians.
Diapaga, located near the borders with Niger and Benin, has experienced previous attacks. In late March, several soldiers and civilian auxiliaries were killed in a suspected insurgent raid in the same area. Burkina Faso, currently under military rule, has been grappling with escalating militant violence for over a decade.