Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has confirmed that seven Ghanaian tomato traders were killed in a deadly terror attack in Burkina Faso, with three others seriously injured.
The Minister revealed that armed attackers separated men from women before opening fire on the male victims.
“They separated the males from the females and went on a shooting spree, killing almost all the men who were there. Unfortunately, we lost seven of the men, three were injured, and one woman was badly hurt,” he said.
Speaking to Joy FM on Monday, Mr. Muntaka disclosed that the bodies of some victims were badly damaged and had begun decomposing, forcing authorities to proceed with immediate burial.
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“Some of the bodies have gone beyond recognition, and because of the security situation, our mission could not go there. The authorities decided that a burial had to take place,” he explained.
He added that Ghana’s mission in Ouagadougou has been working closely with Burkinabe authorities to ensure the safe evacuation of injured survivors.
The Interior Minister made an emotional appeal to the public to stop circulating graphic photos and videos of the victims.
“Please, for heaven’s sake, don’t share these pictures. They are so unpleasant. Put yourself in the shoes of their families,” he pleaded.
He warned that premature circulation of such images causes unnecessary panic and deepens the pain of grieving families.
“Before families are even informed, people are posting pictures. That is not fair. Let’s have empathy,” he stressed.
According to Mr. Muntaka, identification of victims has been challenging due to the condition of the bodies, but surviving women traders are helping authorities.
“The women knew all those who were with them. Some had Ghana Cards and other documents. We are also considering DNA testing to confirm identities,” he said.
He assured that names would only be released after families have been officially contacted.
The Minister recalled that President John Dramani Mahama recently convened a regional security meeting to address growing jihadist threats in West Africa.
“This is not something one country can handle alone. Our people intermarry, trade, and move across borders. What affects one country affects us all,” Muntaka noted.
He said intelligence-sharing and joint security operations remain critical to protecting traders and travellers in the Sahel region.
Mr. Muntaka expressed the government’s condolences to affected families and pledged continued support.
“We will reach out to the families and do everything possible to assist them under these difficult circumstances,” he assured.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to keeping the public informed as rescue and repatriation efforts continue.