An al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for killing 200 soldiers in an attack on a military base in Djibo, northern Burkina Faso, according to the US-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors armed groups’ online activity.

The attack occurred on Sunday morning, targeting a military base, a police station, and a market, security sources told Reuters. Although no official casualty figures have been released, local residents reported dozens of deaths among soldiers and civilians.

SITE noted that JNIM has intensified its operations in Burkina Faso over the past month, causing heavy casualties. The group’s leader in Burkina Faso, Ousmane Dicko, recently appeared in a video urging residents of Djibo to evacuate for their safety.

Earlier this week, JNIM also claimed an attack on a military post in the northern Loroum province, stating 60 soldiers were killed.

The ongoing violence underscores the challenges faced by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—countries led by military governments—in containing extremist armed groups.

Authorities in Burkina Faso have yet to comment on the recent attacks.