Ghana’s Embassy in Burkina Faso has stated that Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an extremist group active in the Sahel region, has been linked to last Saturday’s attack on Ghanaian traders in Titao, northern Burkina Faso.

The embassy said it was working with authorities in Burkina Faso to identify victims and support survivors.

The attack involved trucks carrying tomato merchants from Ghana, the Ministry for the Interior said in a statement issued last Sunday.

It added that several trucks were set ablaze and male traders and drivers were killed, while female traders were reportedly spared.

“Titao has faced repeated armed attacks since 2019, as militant groups continue to destabilise northern Burkina Faso.

The region remains one of the most volatile zones in the Sahel, with security threats affecting both civilians and cross-border traders,” the statement added. 

JNIM, formed from a coalition of Al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sahel, has been responsible for numerous attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

The group is said to target civilians, aid workers and traders, with its activities increasing insecurity in border regions.

“The Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso is liaising with the officials of Burkina Faso to visit the attack site for details and identification of Ghanaians caught in the attack,” the statement signed by the sector minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, said.

The Ministry for the Interior reiterated that it would provide updates on victims and survivors once it verified any information received.

Security analyst

A security analyst and Executive Secretary of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission, Dr Adam Bonnah, said the activities of extremists in neighbouring countries demanded top alertness at Ghana’s entry and exit points to avert any intrusion.

He said that, although Ghana was safe, the recent attack on Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso demanded heightened alertness.

"You can see America is landing troops in Nigeria and providing firearms, ammunition and the rest.

"This tells you no country can fight terrorism alone.

As a country, everyone must be alert,” Dr Bonnah said. 

In an interview in Accra yesterday, Dr Bonnah stated that Ghana had not experienced any terrorist attack, "and we don't expect to see any.

We are concerned, though, and condolences to our kinsmen and women who have become victims of these attacks".

Assurance

"At the Small Arms Commission, we will continue to play our role to ensure that illicit firearms do not get to Ghana.

But if they do, we will ensure they are arrested," he told the Daily Graphic.

Dr Bonnah said those who carried out the atrocity used small arms, so it was important that the commission did its work “as we are doing and we promise to do more”.

He expressed optimism that the Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill would soon be passed by parliament into law to empower the commission.