LOREPÉNI – The Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) in Lonkosso, Lorepéni, effectively thwarted a terrorist attack last weekend, with air support playing a crucial role in the operation.

According to Burkina Information Agency, on the night of January 20 to January 21, 2024, a group of terrorists launched an assault on a VDP base in Lonkosso, Lorepéni. The VDP members successfully subdued the attackers, neutralizing the surviving terrorists in a sweep conducted the following morning. However, the threat was not entirely eliminated as the assailants received reinforcements on the evening of January 21, 2024, to prepare for a retaliatory strike.

The terrorists divided into two groups, planning to launch a renewed attack in the morning. Their preparations, however, were closely monitored by air vectors. The first group, settling in for the night before their planned attack, was struck by a missile. While this group and their logistics were engulfed in flames, the second group, believing they were undetected, advanced into the woods for better concealment. Nonetheless, this group too was effectively targeted and hit by missile fire.

In the aftermath, only three terrorists managed to escape the initial flames, but they eventually collapsed further away, unable to continue their escape. This successful defense by the VDP, with crucial air support, represents a significant setback for terrorist activities in the region.