SW News: The UN high commissioner for human rights has stated that at least 150 civilians may have been killed and numerous others injured in an attack that was reportedly carried out by Burkina Faso's security forces.

The commissioner, Ravina Shamdasani, demanded in a statement on Tuesday that a probe into what it called the "horrific killing of civilians" in the village of Karma, in the northern Yatenga province, be launched immediately, thoroughly, independently, and impartially.

The prosecutor in Burkina Faso announced on Monday that an inquiry had been launched into the deaths, but he estimated that 60 people had died, less than half of what the UN and locals had claimed.

For seven years, jihadi fighters with ties to al-Qaida and the Islamic State have engaged in a bloody struggle in Burkina Faso. Two coups occurred last year as a result of the bloodshed, which killed thousands of people and split the nation.

According to rights organizations and locals, the number of extrajudicial executions of people has grown since Capt. Ibrahim Traore overthrew the government in the second coup in September 2022.

The military is allegedly abusing individuals it suspects are helping the jihadis, according to growing allegations surrounding one of the bloodiest incidents involving security forces and civilians.

After a video leaked that appeared to show the extrajudicial killing of seven children in the nation's north, the government of Burkina Faso stated earlier this month that it was starting additional investigations into claims that its security forces had violated human rights.

This month, The Associated Press released its analysis of the footage. According to the AP's research, the youngsters were murdered by Burkina Faso security agents at a military installation outside of the town of Ouahigouya. Near Ouahigouya, about 40 security officers were killed a few days before the raid last week. According to the locals' testimony, survivors claimed that because the soldiers allowed them to walk through their town, they accused them of being terrorist accomplices. The statement also said that since the violence, people in the community haven't been able to bury their relatives as an army roadblock prevented them from reaching the village.