Burkina: one dead and at least 60 prisoners freed in the attack on a prison
The Burkinabè town of Nouna is close to the border with Mali.
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Armed men launched an assault on the prison in the town of Nouna, in the northwest of the country, on the night of May 7 to 8.
A traditional Dozo hunter, a civilian auxiliary to the security forces, was killed and 65 prisoners released.
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With our correspondent in Ouagadougou,
Yaya Boudani
It was around midnight last night that a group of armed men launched an assault on the town of Nouna, located in the loop of Mouhoun, in the northwest of the country.
"
The whole town was surrounded by armed men who were firing heavy weapons
," said a witness.
The house of arrest and correction was the main target of these armed men.
It was "
almost completely destroyed
," said a security source.
Coming in several vehicles and on motorcycles, the attackers opened fire on the prison using 12.7 and PKMS machine guns, and Kalashnikov rifles.
They left behind walls riddled with bullets, doors smashed in, vehicles, offices ransacked or set on fire.
About sixty prisoners were released and equipment taken away.
The security forces and their civilian auxiliaries attempted a response.
And the fighting lasted several hours, according to witnesses on the spot.
“
There were shootings until 5 a.m.
,” said a resident.
“
The situation is very deplorable,
” continues our source.
According to witnesses, members of armed terrorist groups had made several sporadic incursions into the town of Nouna before this attack on the prison.
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Burkina Faso