A school in the town of Zon has been attacked by armed men. The incident occurred on Wednesday 9 June 2021, at around 9.20am. The attackers were about 40 unidentified armed men. They wanted to take the teachers and pupils hostage in the school of Zon. This is a village on the border between Mali and Burkina, 25km from the town of Koro.

They broke into the school in Zon

The population immediately alerted the school to the arrival of these armed men. The teachers and pupils had time to take refuge in the fields. The assailants went around the classrooms looking for people. They collected the teaching materials and personal belongings of the students and teachers. Then they burned them in the schoolyard. They then went to the canteen shop to take bags of rice. They retreated into the forest shortly afterwards.

They dominate in the bush

Armed groups remain very active in this locality where they rule. On the other side of the border, in Burkina Faso, they coldly murdered 160 people last Saturday in the village of Solhan. This has brought the whole country into mourning.

It should be noted that the school in Zon was the only functioning school in the region. All other schools had closed down due to threats from hostile armed men. They were against learning the French language.

The news of the incursion of armed men into the Zon school quickly spread to the surrounding villages. It created a general panic among the population.

With this attack, the entire south of the commune of Koro will now be without schools. It is up to the authorities to reinforce the security of the area with a military presence. This could allow the reopening of classes for the 2021-2022 school year.

MamP's

© Photos Credits : mediacongo

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