Terror attack kills 23 in Burkina Faso hotel siege
Terrorists attacked a luxury hotel in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou, leaving 23 people dead. The dead are reported to be from 18 different countries.
Four attackers were reported killed, among them were two women.
News reports say the Al-Qaeda militants attacked the Splendid Hotel, a café and another hotel nearby.
A joint operation by Burkinabe military and French security forces ended the siege in the morning of Saturday January 16, 2016 and freed about 123 people.
The group calling itself the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the attack. The same group was responsible for a similar attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital, Bamako in November 2016. 19 people were killed in that attack.
The attack in Burkina Faso has generated warnings to their government from some Ghanaians on social media. Some are linking the attack to the country’s decision to accept to former Guantanamo Bay detainees at the request of the US government. The negotiations and decision to accept the detainees as discussions so far show have been shrouded in secrecy – with government officials directly responsible for security and foreign affairs claimingnot to be aware of the details of discussions that went into the decision.
One Ghanaian posted a common proverb on the Facebook profile saying “If your next door neighbour’s beard is on fire, you should find a bucket of water and keep it near to you.” Referring to the attack just north of the border of Ghana. Ghana and Burkina Faso share a common border to the north of the country.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi
Let’s as a United country look at things logically these attacks are subject to each countries interna involvement in Islamic fundamentals as such we in Ghana over the years have not been found wanting meaning we should not express fear where it is not applicable am sure our government won’t put to risk lives and property let’s be calm God bless our homeland Ghana.