Burkina Faso/Terrorism: Lieutenant-Colonel Kouagri NATAMA, the current Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie (CEMGN), has the wind in his sails

Nearly 300 individuals have been apprehended in Burkina Faso, and 150 tricycles and provisions have been seized by the national gendarmerie. The new Chief of Staff of this unit, Lieutenant-Colonel Kouagri NATAMA, was responsible for the haul. On his arrival, he promised to do everything possible to step up the fight against terrorism.

In the regions of Fada N’Gourma and Tenkodogo, in the east and centre of Burkina Faso respectively, the national gendarmerie, with the help of military personnel, has apprehended nearly 300 individuals suspected of carrying out terrorist-related activities.

Several hundred people were arrested for allegedly smuggling foodstuffs, fuel, spare parts and livestock.

A total of 280 people are involved, including nine minors arrested in possession of products intended for armed terrorist groups, according to the AIB.

During the gendarmerie operation, 11 vehicles, 25 motorbikes, 150 tricycles, a large quantity of food and non-living goods including 1,629 bags of sesame, 111 bags of millet, bags of maize, 580 litres of fuel, 33 cattle, 227 small ruminants, 413 kg of Indian hemp, three bags of amphetamines, engine blocks, spare parts, prohibited pharmaceutical products and many other items were seized.

Following such a phenomenal feat on the part of the National Gendarmerie of the 6ᵉ legion of the Fada N’Gourma and Tenkodogo regions, public opinion wishes to congratulate the current Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie (CEMGN), Lieutenant-Colonel Kouagri NATAMA, on «his master stroke».

However, it urged him to carry out more operations of this kind in order to rout the enemy once and for all and force them to lay down their arms.

«We are proud of our army and in particular of the national gendarmerie. Lieutenant-Colonel Kouagri NATAMA has just made his mark in the fight against terrorism in Burkina through his unit, which he took over recently. We congratulate him on these record seizures and numerous arrests of smugglers allied with terrorists, and urge him to continue down this path», said one citizen.

The citizen went on to say that the national gendarmerie must step up such operations to force the enemy to lay down their arms.

The transitional authorities, who have made the fight against terrorism a national priority, say that investigations are under way to dismantle the entire chain.

Maurice K.ZONGO