The deaths of 28 people, whose bodies were discovered in the town of Nouna in the country’s northwest, are being investigated by the Burkinabe authorities.
The killings were discovered the night of December 30, according to a statement from the government, which also denounced the “unacceptable violence.”
According to prosecutors, the victims were shot to death, but neither the identity of the perpetrators nor the nature of the attacks were revealed, according to the Reuters news agency.
The authorities have called for calm pending the outcome of the investigation.
“This drama occurs at a time when Burkina Faso has initiated an operation of mobilisation of the whole people for unity of action in the fight against terrorism,” the government statement said.
The West African country is battling an Islamist insurgency has already displaced nearly two million people, and prompted two military coups within a year.