Canadian found dead in Burkina Faso

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada

A Canadian abducted by a dozen gunmen in Burkina Faso is dead, his son confirmed Thursday.

Matt Woodman, an employee of CTV News in Canada, learned Thursday his father Kirk was killed.

A spokesperson for the Burkina Faso Security Ministry said Kirk Woodman had been shot and his body was found Wednesday night, about 100 km (62 miles) from the mining site, Canadian-based Progress Minerals, where he was working.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland commented upon his death in a statement released Thursday.

“Canada is appalled and deeply saddened that Kirk Woodman, who was abducted on Jan. 15, 2019, has been killed in Burkina Faso,” she said.

“Canada condemns those responsible for this terrible crime. We are working with the government of Burkina Faso and other international partners to pursue those and bring them to justice,” she added.

The mining site where Woodman was kidnapped Tuesday is near the north-east border with Niger, where armed jihadists have been active.

A state of emergency was declared in parts of the northern provinces of the West African country due to increased attacks by militants.

Woodman is the second Canadian to disappear in Burkina Faso in the past 30 days.

Edith Blais, 34, a native of Quebec, and Italian Luca Tacchetto, 30, were traveling together when they vanished Dec. 15.