An al-Qaeda affiliate has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military base in Djibo, northern Burkina Faso. The group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM, said it killed 200 soldiers during the assault, according to the US-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors armed groups’ online activity.
Security sources confirmed the attack took place on Sunday, targeting not just the army base but also a police station and local market. While there’s no official death toll, residents say dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed. A Burkina Faso military source told Al Jazeera the group’s claim was exaggerated.
Also Read: At Least 40 Civilians Killed In Burkina Faso Attack, Says UN
Al Jazeera’s correspondent Nicolas Haque reported from Dakar that the attack spanned several days, with the military outpost protecting the town of Djibo, home to around 200,000 people, completely destroyed. The assault contradicts recent government claims of reclaiming territory and improving security.
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