Stop Sharing Graphic Images of Burkina Faso Attack Victims – Muntaka Appeals
Interior Minister urges empathy as government works to identify victims and evacuate survivors after deadly attack on Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso.
- Public urged to stop sharing graphic images
- 18 Ghanaian traders killed in Burkina Faso attack
- Government supporting survivors and identification process
Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has urged the public to refrain from circulating disturbing images and videos of victims killed in a terrorist attack on Ghanaian tomato traders in northern Burkina Faso.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, February 16, the minister described the sharing of burnt bodies online as deeply insensitive and traumatic for grieving families who are yet to receive official confirmation of their relatives’ deaths.
He extended condolences to the affected families and revealed that the government is still working to evacuate survivors and complete formal notification processes.
Bodies buried after DNA collection
According to the minister, the victims have already been buried by Burkina Faso authorities with the approval of the Government of Ghana.
Before burial, DNA samples were taken to help identify the remains and properly inform relatives.
Muntaka explained that the attack occurred near Titao when Ghanaian traders travelling through the area were caught in a violent clash between extremist groups and Burkina Faso’s armed forces.
A total of 18 Ghanaian traders—10 men and eight women—were affected.
He recounted that attackers reportedly forced the women off the trucks and opened fire indiscriminately, killing several people instantly, including drivers. The trucks were then set ablaze, leaving many bodies burnt beyond recognition.
Plea for empathy and restraint
“Families of the victims are uncertain. Sharing footage of burnt bodies is not only insensitive but also adds to their trauma. I plead with everyone to stop circulating these images and put themselves in the shoes of the grieving families,” he appealed.
Survivors receiving treatment
Despite the tragedy, some passengers survived.
Three men and one woman who sustained severe burns are receiving treatment, while seven other women are reported to be in stable condition.
Plans are underway to transfer the injured to Ouagadougou, where Ghana’s diplomatic mission will provide further support and assistance.
