Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, the interior minister, has urged people not to post explicit pictures and videos of the people slain in a terrorist attack on a truck carrying Ghanaian tomato vendors in northern Burkina Faso.
The Minister offered condolences to the relatives of the deceased and affirmed that efforts were underway to remove survivors from the impacted area during an appearance on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Monday, February 16.
He pointed out that the occurrence had not yet been formally reported to all families.
He states that the attack happened on Saturday while the traders were passing through Titao and became entangled in a conflict between Burkina Faso’s military and extremist elements.
“Unfortunately, on Saturday, our compatriots travelling through Titao were caught in a violent confrontation between extremists and Burkina Faso’s armed forces. 18 Ghanaian tomato traders were affected, 10 men and eight women. The attackers forced the women off the trucks and opened fire indiscriminately.”
“Several individuals, including the drivers, died instantly, and the trucks were set ablaze, leaving the bodies burnt beyond recognition.”
“Families of the victims are uncertain. Sharing footage of burnt bodies is not only insensitive but also adds to their trauma. I plead with everyone to stop circulating these images and put themselves in the shoes of the grieving families,” he said.
The Minister revealed that, with the consent of the Ghanaian government, the bodies of the deceased had been interred by Burkina Faso authorities.
In order to allow for accurate identification and guarantee that relatives are formally informed, he noted, DNA samples were collected before burial.
Some passengers survived the attack, despite the tragedy’s magnitude.
Seven ladies are said to be in stable condition, while three men and one woman are hospitalised for treatment after suffering severe burns.
Ghana’s foreign mission will offer further support and assistance in Ouagadougou, where plans are in place to evacuate the injured.
As traders regularly use the Sahel corridor to carry agricultural products across borders, the incident has brought attention to the security threats along some of its segments once more.
As attempts to comfort bereaved families and account for all impacted individuals continue, Ghanaian officials said they are still in communication with their Burkinabe colleagues.
Source: newsthemegh.com