14 students killed in northwestern Burkina Faso

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - At least 14 students were killed on Saturday morning in northwestern Burkina Faso after a bus they were traveling in stepped on a mine, authorities said.

“A transport vehicle stepped on an explosive device this Saturday morning in the Toeni area of [northwestern] Sourou province. A bus transporting students to the city of Toma stepped on a mine,” local media said quoting a security source.

“The provisional toll is 14 dead, and 4 seriously injured,” it added.

According to the Surveillance and Intervention Rapid Action Group in West Africa, the incident took place between the villages of Donkou and Dagale.

Three key militant groups have been raking havoc in the north and east of the country.

Last December, 14 people were killed in an attack during Sunday mass on a church in eastern Burkina Faso.

In November, 37 people were killed and more than 60 wounded in an attack on a convoy transporting local employees of Canadian mining company Semafo.