Canadian geologist Kirk Woodman was abducted and killed earlier this week in Burkina Faso – the latest incident that underlines the unraveling of security in the region. The Government recently extended the state of emergency in some northern provinces in the wake of deadly attacks.

Woodman was vice-president of exploration for Canadian company Progress Minerals Inc, when he was abducted from a gold mining site in Tiabangou, near the border with Niger. The Bira Trend exploration site where the abduction happened belonged to junior company Predictive Discovery.

Around ten gunmen attacked the mine, searching the site before stealing equipment and leaving with Woodman. His body was found on Wednesday in Gorom Gorom. He had arrived in the country on the 10th of January.

Canadian and Italian missing, presumed kidnapped

Canadian Edith Blais, 34, and Italian Luca Tacchetto have been missing since 15th December

The pair were reportedly driving from Bobo-Dioulasso to Ougadougou, where they planned to stay for a few days and sell their car, before heading on to Togo where they were due to work on an aid project. Their family and friends have not heard from them since the 15th, and authorities in Canada are treating the case as a potential abduction.

Further news and information

Kirk Woodman

Edith Blais and Luca Tacchetto

 

 

Like what you read? You can sign up here for our free Daily Updates. We also send out a Weekly K+R Update, bundling together all the kidnap, ransom and extortion news of the week in one easy to read newsletter. (Sign up on the same form using the options at the end.)

If you found this post valuable, please show your appreciation by buying us a coffee. Thank you.

Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

Follow and subscribe!

Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our free newsletters - the Daily Updates and the Weekly K+R Update.