Burkina Faso’s Security Ministry has said that a Canadian national had been kidnapped by suspected extremists in the West African nation near its border with Niger.
Spokesperson Jean Paul Badoum said on Wednesday that the Canadian man was abducted during a raid on a mining site in Tiabongou, about 20km from Mansila in Yagha province.
Badoum identified the man as Kirk Woodman, who works for the Progress Mineral Mining Company.
There was no immediate comment from Canadian officials.
Burkina Faso recently declared a state of emergency in the region as attacks by Islamic extremists increase, especially along the border with Niger and Mali.
West Africa’s Sahel region has seen a number of abductions of foreigners in recent years by extremists linked to al-Qaeda, or the Islamic State organisation.
