Nearly 50 women abducted by suspected jihadists in insurgency-hit northern region Burkina FasoLocal officials and residents say.
About 40 were seized on Thursday about 12 km (seven miles) southeast of Arabinda and about 20 others were abducted north of the city on Friday, the sources said on condition of anonymity.
He said many people managed to escape and returned to their villages to raise the alarm.
Since 2015 the landlocked West African country – one of the world’s poorest and most unstable – has been battling an insurgency led by jihadists linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, which has killed thousands and displaced nearly 2 million. People have been displaced.
One resident said, “The women gathered in the bush to collect leaves and wild fruits, as there is nothing left to eat.”
Another resident said, “When they did not return on Thursday evening, we thought there was some problem with their vehicles.” “But the three survivors came back to tell us what had happened.”
The same person said that about 20 women, who were not previously aware of the abduction, were later taken 8 km north of Arabinda the next day.
“In both the groups, some women managed to escape and returned to the village on foot,” said the resident. “We believe the kidnappers took them to their bases.”
According to local officials who confirmed the abduction, the army and its civilian aides have unsuccessfully cleared the area.
Arabinda is in the Sahel region of northern Burkina Faso, an area under blockade by jihadist groups and with limited food supplies.
The city and surrounding areas are regularly beset by jihadist attacks that often target civilians.
In August 2021, 80 people, including 65 civilians, were killed in an attack on a convoy carrying Aurobinda.
In December 2019, 35 civilians were among a group of 42 killed in an attack on the town itself.
Due to the conflict in many parts of Burkina, crops can be cultivated for long periods of time.
The population of Arabinda is heavily dependent on external food supply.
In November 2022, civil society spokesman Idrissa Badini warned about Arabinda’s situation. “The population, which has used up its reserves, is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster,” he said.
The UN says about one million people are living in blockaded areas in the north and east.
Disgruntled military officers have staged two coups this year in a show of anger at failing to roll back the insurgency.