Found Deceased BURKINA FASO (Africa) - Kirk Woodman, Canadian mining employee, kidnapped, Mansila, 15 Jan 2019

[cybervampira]

Canadian kidnapped in northern Burkina Faso | Reuters

Burkina Faso’s security minister says a Canadian national has been kidnapped in the country’s northern Sahel region.

Clement Sawadogo says in a statement that an employee of Vancouver-based mining company Progress Minerals was abducted from the Mansila area near the Niger border on Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canadian officials are aware of the report and are reaching out to the person’s family.



Canadian mining employee kidnapped in northern Burkina Faso: local officials - 680 NEWS

Burkina Faso says Canadian abducted by suspected extremists

 

[JerseyGirl]

He was abducted overnight during a raid on a mining site in Tiabongou, about 20 kilometres from Mansila in Yagha province.

Canadian mining employee kidnapped in northern Burkina Faso, local officials say | The Star

Canadian kidnapped in Burkina Faso identified by local official

 

[JerseyGirl]

another possible kidnapping in Burkina Faso:

BURKINA FASO (Africa) - Edith Blais, 34 & Luca Tacchetto, 30, Canada & Italy tourists, 15 Dec 2018

 

[cybervampira]

We have a photo:

Canadian Miner Kidnapped In Burkina Faso, Country's Government Says

There is 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.

 

[cybervampira]

Burkina Faso says Canadian abducted by suspected extremists

“There are serious reports he has been kidnapped. We are in touch with authorities in Burkina Faso and the authorities there and the relevant Canadian agencies are very much engaged in this difficult situation,” she said.

West Africa’s Sahel region has seen a number of abductions of foreigners in recent years by extremists linked to al-Qaida or the Islamic State organization.

 

[dotr]

Canadian mining employee kidnapped in northern Burkina Faso: local officials - CityNews Toronto

Burkina Faso and surrounding countries. GOOGLE MAPS
Canadian kidnapped in Burkina Faso identified by local official
"Tuesday’s kidnapping occurred on the third anniversary of an attack in a hotel in the centre of the capital Ouagadougou that killed dozens, shocking a country that until then had largely been spared the violence that has plagued its neighbours.

On that same day, militants kidnapped an Australian doctor and his wife, both in their 80s. The doctor’s wife was later freed.

The attacks were claimed by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb."

 

[JerseyGirl]

Not mentioned by name, so we wait:

A Canadian man kidnapped in Burkina Faso has been found dead. The man, who was vice president of a company that owns a gold mine in the region, was removed from a mining area near the border with Niger, on Tuesday night.

Burkina Faso: Bortförd kanadensare uppges död.

another article:

The body of a "white man with bullet holes" was found Wednesday night in Siéga, northern Burkina Faso. "He did not have any identification document or telephone on it to formally identify him on the spot."

Un «homme blanc» retrouvé mort

 

[Elainera]

Terrible

His poor family.

 

[GraceG]

This is heartbreaking. Rarely does anyone kidnapped by extremists get released alive. Still, you hope, until there is no hope left. Prayers for his family.

 

[Elainera]

Confirmed it is him.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.th...d-in-burkina-faso-found-dead-report-says.html

 

[dotr]

Terrible news.
Canadian man's bullet-riddled body found in Burkina Faso, officials say
"Badoum said Woodman was kidnapped by armed gunmen from a mining camp, but officials have not yet identified the kidnappers.

He said no group has taken responsibility for the kidnapping.

Badoum said the body was found alone.

Acadia University professor Sandra Barr said in an email late Wednesday that Woodman was quite well-known among geologists in Nova Scotia, where he was based, and had worked in Africa for decades.

"He was very passionate about the work that he was doing there," she said."
Travel Advice and Advisories for Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso - AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
Avoid non-essential travel to Burkina Faso due to the threat of terrorism.

Northern area and the border with Mali - Avoid all travel
Avoid all travel to the area north of the Tougan–Ouahigouya–Djibo–Dori line—up to the Mali and Niger borders—and within 80 km of the rest of the Burkina Faso–Mali border, due to the threat of banditry and kidnapping.

Safety and security situation

Border with Niger - Avoid all travel
Avoid all travel to the following areas due to the threat of terrorism:

• within 40 km of the border with Niger
• within 40 km of the province of Komondjari
• within 40 km of the province of Gourma
• within 40 km of the province of Kompienga
• within 40 km of the province of Tapoa

Safety and security situation

Borders with Benin and Togo - Avoid all travel
Avoid all travel to 40 km within borders of Benin and Togo due to the threat of banditry and terrorism.

Safety and security situation

W National Park - Avoid all travel
Avoid all travel to the W National Park due to the regional threat of terrorism.

Safety and security situation

Travel Health Notice - Zika virus
The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued advice for travellers on the Zika virus, recommending that Canadians practice special health precautions while travelling in affected countries. Pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant should avoid travel to Burkina Faso. See Health for more information.

 

[moonriverfarm]

Why this man? What was the reason he was chosen by terrorists? and where was he when kidnapped?

 

[JerseyGirl]

Why this man? What was the reason he was chosen by terrorists? and where was he when kidnapped?

Kirk Woodman was a Canadian man who was working for an international mining company in the West African nation of Burkina Faso.

A dozen gunmen carried out a raid on a mine in the north of the country after nightfall on Tuesday, January 16. Woodman was abducted during the raid in Tiabongou, in Yagha province. The government says that the region has come under increasing threat from jihadi groups on Western companies.

Woodman’s body was found riddled with bullets near Burkina Faso’s borders with Mali and Niger, near Petoye-Beiga, in Gorom Gorom. All signs point to Woodman’s captors killing him and then fleeing. Woodman’s abductors likely tried to force him to enter Mali; that Woodman probably resisted, which led to them killing him.

Authorities are searching for the kidnappers, who may have headed towards Niger.

Kirk Woodman: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com

 

[Elainera]

Woodman’s abductors likely tried to force him to enter Mali; that Woodman probably resisted, which led to them killing him.

What might be the reason they wanted him to enter Mali? Are the kidnappers based there I wonder?

 

[JerseyGirl]

What might be the reason they wanted him to enter Mali? Are the kidnappers based there I wonder?

I dunno, but this is an interesting read:

In all cases bar 2, 3, 5 and 36, the victims were grabbed by (or passed on to) Islamist militias, including Al Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) or ISIS-affiliated groups to eventually be released for ransom following lengthy captivity in northern Mali. In 2018 there are now so many splinter groups it’s hard to keep track and in September, ethnic Peul (aka: Fulani) got in on the act. The regional instability initially kicked off by jihadist groups in northern Mali following the fall of Gaddafi has spread southwards, seeing a steep rise to inter-ethnic violence by Sahelian militias, supposedly based on age-old grievances over access to land and water.

Kidnappings

 

[Elainera]

to eventually be released for ransom following lengthy captivity in northern Mali.

Aha. Yes that might be the reason they tried to bring him to Mali. Thank you JerseyGirl!

 

[iulia]

This case reminds me of a Romanian man kidnapped in Northern Burkina Faso in 2015. He was taken to Mali and after some time a video recording of him surfaced as hostage of a Mali affiliate of al-Qaeda.
I think that Mr. Woodman knew what awaited him once he was captured, and I agree he wouldn't let himself be taken over the border.

 

[dotr]

Jan 22 2019
Gunmen stole valuables during kidnapping, killing of Canadian in Burkina Faso: official

"Details are emerging about the kidnapping and killing of a Canadian mining company executive in Burkina Faso last week, as authorities continue their investigation.

Jean Paul Badoum, an official with the West African country’s Ministry of Security, says the gunmen who kidnapped Kirk Woodman of Halifax also appear to have stolen a number of items, including money, cell phones and computers.


He says the theft suggests the kidnapping may have been carried out by a gang of armed bandits.

But Badoum says security forces are continuing to investigate and are not ruling anything out – including the possibility extremists or other groups were involved."

 

[dotr]

March 29 2019
ISIS claims it kidnapped, killed Halifax geologist in Burkina Faso

"The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility Thursday for the killing of a Canadian geologist kidnapped from a mining camp in Burkina Faso two months ago.

The claim appeared in the latest issue of the ISIS propaganda newsletter Al-Naba along with what appeared to be a photo of Kirk Woodman’s Nova Scotia driver’s license.

Woodman was abducted by gunmen on Jan. 15 from a camp operated by B.C.-based Progress Minerals Inc. His body was found 100 kilometres away the next day. He had been shot.

The RCMP is investigating.

Prof. Amarnath Amarasingam, a Toronto-based terrorism expert, said Al-Naba was a credible ISIS publication. Researcher Aaron Zelin described it as the weekly newsletter of ISIS."

 

[cnmccarthy]

Gives a bit more information.

“ Stu Cowan: An emotional night at the Bell Centre for Halifax family
Canadiens invited Woodman family to watch Saturday night's game against the Leafs after father was murdered while working in Western Africa.”

Stu Cowan: An emotional night at the Bell Centre for Halifax family | Montreal Gazette