Catholic father killed in northwest Burkina Faso

The Catholic Church in Burkina Faso announced Tuesday the assassination of one of its priests, at Soro, northwest of the insecurity-plagued country, by unidentified armed men.

The father abbot, identified as Jacques Yaro Zerbo, was killed on Dédougou-Gassan road on Monday, reported Anadolu News Agency, quoting a security source.

The region where Dédougou diocese is located is reeling with insecurity caused by terrorist groups.

In September the Catholic Church announced the abduction of Goubebana Marius Tao, a great seminarian, who has gone missing since September 06. The incident took place in the same region.

The Boucle du Mouhoun region (in the north-west of the country) is one of the regions most affected by terrorism in Burkina Faso. In this region at least 28 civilians were killed in the night between Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31, in “retaliation” following a “terrorist” attack in the town of Nouna, capital of the province of Kossi. Authorities announced Tuesday a probe into the incident.