Burkina Faso PM visits devastated villages after attack

Burkina Faso's prime minister on Monday visited an area in the country's north where at least 132 people were killed in an Islamist attack last week.

"This is the first time in our country that we have had an attack with such massive devastation of the population of our country," said Christophe Dabiré, on a visit to the town of Sebba, some 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Solhan village where the attack occurred.

The jihadis struck Solhan on Friday night, shooting civilians and burning down their homes, the government said.

Video released by authorities showed the aftermath of the attack, including wrecked buildings and burned-out motorcycles.

A doctor working at Sebba's health unit said that 40 injured people were being treated at his medical center, while others who were in a serious condition had been transferred to other hospitals.

For five years, Burkina Faso's ill-equipped and undertrained army has been struggling to stem a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, often arriving late or not at all to attacks.

While no group has claimed responsibility, Sahel analysts say this attack was likely carried out by the al-Qaida linked group JNIM, which has recently strengthened its position in the area.

Dabiré said that the attack had struck despite major efforts to combat terrorism.

He urged people to work with authorities to stop young people from joining terrorist groups, and instead engage them in the "economic and social development" of Burkina Faso.