The Bobo-Dioulasso central police commissariat presented the results of several judicial investigations during a press conference on November 2, 2026. Three individuals were arrested for alleged transnational scams, multiple motorbike thefts, and a murder case. The investigations led to the seizure of several assets, including eight motorbikes. The police have dealt a blow to several criminal networks and activities in Bobo-Dioulasso and its surroundings.
The first case involves alleged multiple scams, association of malefactors, and money laundering. According to Commissioner Idrissa Sawadogo, the network consisted of two individuals operating in Burkina Faso and three neighboring countries since 2018. They would convince victims they had mystical powers to predict the future and protect them from enemies. The suspects would then take significant amounts of money or goods from their victims under the guise of performing blessings.
One of the active members of the group, D. A., 35, was arrested after a stakeout and with the help of the population. His alleged accomplice, O. P. D., in his fifties, is still at large. The investigations revealed seven scam cases in the Houet province, with a total estimated loss of over 82 million FCFA. The suspect admitted to participating in three cases, representing over 46 million FCFA. The police also suspect that the individual has victims in Mali, Ghana, and Togo.
The second investigation concerns alleged multiple motorbike thefts, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. M. G., 28, an apprentice mason, was arrested for operating alone since 2022. He would sneak into homes at night and steal motorbikes, mostly during rainy periods. The suspect would then transport the stolen motorbikes to his village in a neighboring commune. The police and Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie (VDP) collaborated to locate and arrest him.
Eight stolen motorbikes, five valid Burkinabè national identity cards, a vehicle registration plate, and a motorbike license plate were seized. The suspect admitted to the crimes and is believed to have committed around ten motorbike thefts. He is also a repeat offender, having served time at the Bobo-Dioulasso prison in 2022 for theft.
The third case involves a murder that occurred near the Ouezzin-ville Urban Medical Center (CMU). The police launched an investigation and arrested B. H., 52, a carpenter, who allegedly used a stick and a broken bottle to inflict severe head and arm injuries on the victim. Despite being evacuated to the CMU, the victim died shortly after admission. A knife linked to the case was among the items seized.
Following the presentation of these cases, the police urged the population to collaborate with the defense and security forces in the fight against crime. The authorities aim to strengthen trust and cooperation to effectively tackle the rising crime rates in Bobo-Dioulasso and its surroundings.
Key points
- Three individuals arrested in Bobo-Dioulasso for transnational scams, motorbike thefts, and murder.
- The suspects were involved in multiple cases of scams, thefts, and murder, with estimated losses of over 82 million FCFA.
- The police seized several assets, including eight motorbikes, and urged the population to collaborate in the fight against crime.
