Seven Ghanaian traders who were killed in a terrorist attack in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, have been laid to rest as the Government of Ghana intensifies efforts to evacuate surviving victims to safety.
The Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, disclosed the development in an interview with journalists in Accra on Monday, February 16. He confirmed that the bodies of the deceased, which had been severely burnt during the attack, were buried in Burkina Faso due to the deteriorating condition of the remains and the prevailing security challenges in the area.
According to the Minister, the seven victims had been burnt beyond recognition, and by Sunday, authorities determined that the bodies had begun decomposing, necessitating immediate burial in line with public health and security considerations.
“The seven bodies have been burnt beyond recognition. As at yesterday, we agreed they had begun decomposing and had to be buried,” he stated.
Government had initially hoped that officials from Ghana’s diplomatic mission would be present to witness the burial rites. However, the volatile security situation in the affected region made travel to the site unsafe.
The Minister explained that the Burkina Faso authorities informed their Ghanaian counterparts that the burial would take place at 10:00 a.m., given the urgency of the circumstances. Some Ghanaian women who were not seriously injured were permitted to attend the burial and document the process.
Mr. Mubarak further revealed that the Burkina Faso military is working to establish a secure corridor to enable the transportation of both injured and uninjured survivors from Titao to Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Ouagadougou. Upon arrival at the mission, arrangements will be made for their safe return to Ghana.
The victims were part of a group of 18 Ghanaian tomato traders and truck drivers who were caught up in the deadly attack last Saturday in Titao, a town in northern Burkina Faso that has experienced persistent insecurity linked to extremist violence.
Out of the 18 Ghanaians involved in the incident, seven lost their lives. Three men sustained injuries, while one woman remains in critical condition. Other survivors reportedly suffered minor injuries.
“And the sad thing is that we lost seven of our men. Three of them got injured. One woman was critically injured, and others were not badly injured,” the Interior Minister said.
The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens abroad and is working closely with Burkina Faso authorities to secure the safe evacuation and eventual repatriation of the affected nationals.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the growing security concerns in parts of the Sahel region, where cross-border trade activities continue to be threatened by extremist attacks. Ghanaian authorities have assured the public that diplomatic and security channels remain fully engaged to manage the situation and provide the necessary support to the victims and their families.
