Crystabel Ukwuegbu
Recent videos circulating online depict civilians being led away by armed individuals, with elderly people and children struggling to keep pace reportedly threatened with knives. Additional footage shows lifeless bodies, with claims suggesting they are victims of a massacre in Gayeri, a town in eastern Burkina Faso.
In response, the Burkinabè government has strongly denounced these videos as misleading, arguing that they falsely depict “ethnic massacres.” Officials claim the videos are part of a wider “political-media campaign” designed to damage the nation’s reputation.
A government spokesperson warned that such content seeks to ignite community divisions and provoke ethnic tensions. However, he reassured citizens that the country remains dedicated to maintaining peace and ensuring that all Burkinabè can live in dignity on their ancestral land.
In a related move, Prosecutor Blaise Bazié announced the launch of an investigation into online messages inciting violence, particularly those calling for the “extermination” of a specific ethnic group, with the Fulani community frequently being targeted.
Authorities have urged the public to assist in identifying individuals responsible for spreading hate speech and inflammatory content online.
