Ghanaian Man Recounts 77-Day Detention in Burkina Faso After Release

A 28-year-old Ghanaian, Zakaria Abubakari from Savelugu, has narrated his experience after being released from detention in Burkina Faso, where he spent 77 days following his arrest during a military operation.

According to him, he was arrested on February 26, 2026, in Kongoussi while staying at the residence of a local man he described as a Good Samaritan. He said he was on transit through the area en route to an undisclosed destination in Mali when armed soldiers stormed the house and arrested him.

Mr Abubakari explained that he was immediately blindfolded and transported to a military detention facility in Kaya, where he spent 13 days in custody before being moved to another undisclosed location.

He stated that he remained in detention for about 50 more days before being transferred to Ouagadougou, where he was later held in police custody until his release in late April.

Throughout his detention, he said security officials repeatedly questioned him about his presence in Kongoussi, an area affected by armed group activity, particularly Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.

He added that after investigations, authorities found no evidence linking him to any militant group.

Mr Abubakari, however, claimed that his personal belongings were not returned after his release.

“They only took me to a bus station barefoot and empty-handed and told me to return to Ghana,” he recounted.

He said he was later assisted by Good Samaritans who helped him secure transport back home, where he has since reunited with his family in Savelugu.

The case comes amid ongoing concerns over other reported detentions and disappearances of Ghanaians in Burkina Faso, including individuals from the Upper West Region and Bawku Municipality who have not yet been located.