Six people were on Friday shot dead in the northern part of Burundi by unidentified gunmen, the regional governor has said.
The killings come weeks after a similar incident occurred in a southern province.
Remy Cishahayo, army colonel and governor of Kayanza province, said unidentified gunmen launched the attack on Thursday night from the Kibira forest and fled to the same area after the attack.
“They arrived at a small centre, … killed six people including two kids studying in primary school II and V,” Cishahayo confirmed on state-owned National Radio Television of Burundi.
The centre attacked on Thursday is near the forest. The forest in the past served as cover for the ruling CNDDFDD – The National Council for the Defence of Democracy, Forces for the Defence of Democracy party – during its rebellion.
Two people were wounded and are receiving treatment, while the attackers kidnapped one person, Cishahayo said.
“People should stay calm and united ensuring security together ” Cishahayo said, adding the situation has returned to normalcy.
In late August, gunmen attacked the district of Bugarama in the southern province of Rumonge, where at least 16 people died in shooting with security forces.
Red Tabara, a rebel group fighting Burundi’s government and based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, claimed responsibility for the attack.