Burkina Faso’s ruling military regime on Monday accused terrorist groups of carrying out massacres against civilians in the north of the country, urging people to “give no credence” to images of abuses committed by armed men portrayed as Burkina Faso soldiers.
Since the beginning of December, several videos have been widely posted on social networks accusing the army of committing acts of violence against civilians in the Djibo area (north).
“The government invites the population not to give any credence to the video images currently circulating on social networks”, wrote the government spokesman and Minister for Communication, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, in a press release.
These videos “attempt to make people believe that massacres of civilians have been perpetrated by Burkina Faso’s fighting forces”, he added, denouncing a “communication campaign fuelled by the terrorists”, concerning “massacres that they themselves have perpetrated”.
“These are treacherous fabrications designed to discredit the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP, civilian auxiliaries to the army), who put up heroic resistance to the onslaught of terrorists who failed miserably to take control of the Djibo camp on 26 November”, he said.
On that day, militants carried out a massive attack against an army detachment in Djibo, killing several soldiers, according to security sources.
No official figures were released, but the state media claimed that the army’s response had “neutralised more than 400 terrorists”.
At least 40 civilians were also killed and 42 wounded, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
On Monday, the government spokesman also assured that “Burkina Faso’s fighting forces are acting with professionalism and respect for human rights”.
Djibo, close to the so-called three-border zone between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali where terrorist groups are active, has been under siege for months.
Several convoys seeking to supply the area have been attacked.
Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been caught up in a spiral of violence perpetrated by terrorist groups affiliated to other terrorists, which has left a total of more than 17,000 civilians and soldiers dead.
Quest : Emmanuel kelvin
TWENTY UNIVERSITIES CONVERGE AT OAU TO COMPETE IN THE WAUG CHAMPIONSHIP
Athletes from 20 universities in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal are participating at the ongoing West African Universities Games (WAUG) championship holding at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun.
Events being competed for at the games include table tennis, athletics, tennis and basketball.
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The Director of Sports, OAU, Alhaja Omobola Tijani, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Ile-Ife, that the ongoing games is WAUG Championship, which is different from WAUG proper.
“The WAUG we are hosting is the championship and it is called TATB (Table-tennis, Athletics, Tennis and Basketball).
“The WAUG proper consist of the 16 Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) sports.
“The WAUG championship will be closing on Dec. 22 with just 20 universities from Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria participating in the games
“At the end of the games, our students will have international recognition, will be making new friends and the game will provide OAU the opportunity to upgrade its facilities”, she said.
Tijani said that OAU was one of the universities in Nigeria that had its sports facilities within the university .
She said that the management of the institution had upgraded its sports facilities to international standards for the games.
Commenting on security arrangements for the games, Tijani said that the university security unit with the assistance of the police and other law enforcement agencies were on ground to provide security.
She said that CCTVs have also been installed for surveillance on the university campus and in particular at the venues of the games.
Quest : Emmanuel kelvin.