Namentenga: Twelve girls, aged 2 to 12, victims of female genital mutilation, were taken on September 15, 2026, to the Boulsa Medical Center with Surgical Unit (CMA), where they received comprehensive and free medical care, stated the chief medical officer of the Boulsa health district, Emile Compaor.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the victims were discovered in the Dapor district, in sector 2 of Boulsa, following an intervention by the central police station of Boulsa, alerted by the provincial directorate in charge of family and solidarity. "Informed by the provincial directorate of family and solidarity, I deployed a team to sector 2, in the Dapor district, to investigate the facts," explained the chief police commissioner of Boulsa, Boukary Bonkoungou. Upon the arrival of police officers at the scene, three girls who were bleeding were quickly taken to the Boulsa Medical Center (CMA) for treatment. In total, twelve girls, aged 2 to 12, were identified and received free care at the Boulsa CMA.
According to Commissioner Bonkoungou, the parents present at the scene initially claimed not to know the identity or place of residence of the woman who performed the circumcision. They stated that she had come from the village of Zams, in the commune of Kogho, and had left the area after the act. Continuing their investigation, the police eventually discovered nine more girls who had been hidden in a room. The suspected circumciser was also identified and her home located.
"The long-term consequences for these circumcised girls can be detrimental to their development," emphasized the chief medical officer of the Boulsa health district, Emile Compaor. Chief Commissioner Boukary Bonkoungou also indicated that the alleged circumciser demanded 2,000 FCFA and four kola nuts per girl in exchange for the procedure. Those involved, including the circumciser and her accomplices, are currently being questioned by the police, pending their appearance before the Kaya High Court.
Commissioner Bonkoungou called on the population to increase awareness against the practice of female genital mutilation and to report any suspicious cases to the relevant authorities. According to him, Article 513, paragraph 7, stipulates sentences ranging from one to ten years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 to 5 million FCFA for perpetrators of female genital mutilation. In the event of the victim's death, the sentence can range from 11 to 21 years imprisonment, along with a fine of 5 to 10 million FCFA.
A medical examination of the victims is scheduled for September 18, 2026, which should allow the procedure to be finalized before the accused persons are brought before the competent jurisdiction in Kaya. The chief police commissioner of Boulsa, Boukary Bonkoungou, invited the population to report cases of excision to the following toll-free numbers: 16, 17 and 1010.