Three Ghanaian men describe their involvement in the conflict between Islamist insurgents and the military in Burkina Faso, detailing scenes of violence and revealing their motivations for joining the fight.
Three Ghana ians have told the BBC of their involvement in the fighting between Islamist insurgents and the military in neighbouring Burkina Faso, describing scenes of sometimes indiscriminate violence and bloody battles.
"My elder brother, his wife and children were all killed by the army. It pains me a lot. The military came to their community in the forest. They killed all of them, a whole household, including 29 people," one of the men said. The BBC was put in touch with the men through contacts at cattle markets in northern Ghana, where jihadist groups are alleged to be recruiting fighters.In 2022, a France-based NGO, Promediation, said its research showed that the jihadists had recruited between 200 and 300 young Ghanaians.
"They grabbed the men, and they beat them to death. My husband was a farmer. He had nothing to do with the government militia or the conflict," she told the BBC.Saafiya Karim fled to Ghana after her village was raided "They are not allowed to take any action against Ghana. This is a clear and certain statement. JNIM do not seek war against Ghana," the man, known as Ansari, said in the statement, which the BBC has seen.
"We understand they are supplying weapons that they have taken from the military in Burkina Faso. They do this by relying on the trucks that travel up to Niger and back carrying onions. They hide the weapons inside those trucks," Tanko told the BBC.
BURKINA FASO GHANA INSURGENCY JIHADIST VIOLENCE MILITARY RECRUITMENT
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