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Burkina Faso to step up security after attacks targeting police posts

Xinhua, May 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Burkina Faso is to boost security via increasing the number of police posts as no group has claimed responsibility for the May 18 attack on Koutoukou police post in northern Burkina Faso, Security Minister Simon Compaore said.

"We shall increase the number of police posts across the country. This will enable us to be everywhere," Compaore told a Monday press conference, adding that the government plans to have a police post at "every 50 to 80 km distance across the entire national territory."

On May 18, three assailants in a vehicle opened fire on a police post situated in Far North region of the country, injuring two police officers.

The assailants ransacked the police post and carried away some materials.

According to Lazare Tarpaga, the director general of police, police have not ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack.

"Since the attack occurred, no group has claimed responsibility but we believe it could have been a terrorist attack, just like the other terrorist attack that occurred in Ouagadougou on Jan. 15," Tarpaga said when he addressed the press.

Burkina Faso, just like other countries in the West Africa sub-region, has come under attacks perpetrated by Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

After several attacks targeting police stations, especially along the country's borders with Niger and Mali, the capital Ouagadougou came under a terrorist attack, for which AQIM claimed responsibility. The attack left at least 30 people dead in Ouagadougou on Jan. 15, 2016.

The security minister highlighted the importance of reinforcing the capacities of security forces by providing them with adequate means.

"It will be important to equip these police stations, put up the correct infrastructures, recruit a sufficient number of officers and give them enough weapons to guarantee the security of the population," he said.

Compaore said talks were ongoing with Niger and Cote d'Ivoire, to coordinate the fight against terrorism. Endite