Militants killed 36 civilians when they attacked villages on Monday in northern Burkina Faso, the government said Tuesday, appealing for local support in the fight against jihadists.
A "terrorist group" killed 32 civilians when they attacked and burned the market in Nagraogo village before killing four more people in Alamou village, the government said.
Three other people were wounded in the attacks, it added.
"The Burkina government has learned with consternation and anger of the deaths of 36 Burkinade in Sanmatenga province, after a terrorist attack," communications minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou said.
Faced with these "repeated attacks" against civilians, the government launched an appeal for the people's "frank collaboration" with the defence and security forces.
The Burkina parliament on Tuesday adopted unanimously a law allowing for the recruitment of local volunteers in the fight against jihadists, providing them with "light weapons."