Security forces have rescued 66 women and children who were kidnapped by armed fighters in northern Burkina Faso last week.
\nAccording to international media reports, armed men seized the women and their children on January 12 and 13 outside two villages in the district of Arbinda, in the Sahel region\u2019s Soum province.
\nThe abduction prompted alarm from the United Nations, while the country\u2019s military government warned of a rise in attacks on civilians.
\nBurkina Faso is one of several countries in West Africa battling a rampant armed uprising with links to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS).
\nArmed rebels have occupied territory in the country\u2019s arid and mainly rural north, executing hundreds of villagers and displacing thousands more in the process.
\nThey have also blockaded certain areas in recent months and made it increasingly dangerous to deliver supplies to trapped citizens.
\nFaced with acute food shortages, many villagers have resorted to picking wild fruit, leaves and seeds to feed their families. They say venturing into the bush makes them vulnerable to attacks.
\nOn Thursday, two suspected attacks in the country\u2019s north and northwest killed at least 18 people, including 16 vigilantes supporting the army.
\nCaptain Ibrahim Traore, leader of the military government that seized power last September, said in December that his aim was to take back territory occupied by \u201chordes of terrorists\u201d.
\nLast week, he said the armed rebels were switching tactics to \u201cfocus on civilians\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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