Around 40 people have been killed in a fresh wave of violence in Burkina Faso, in areas where militant attacks are rife, as per sources.

In the fresh attacks, around 20 people were killed in a series of raids on villages in Burkina Faso's troubled north, security sources and residents said, as quoted by AFP.

Militants attacked three villages early on Thursday in the country's northern Yatenga province.

"Yesterday at around 5:00 am (local and GMT), armed groups attacked the villages of Pelle, Zanna, and Nongfaire," a resident said on Friday, giving a toll of 25 people killed.

There were "many others wounded," the resident added.

Another resident said, "The assailants, who came on motorbikes, were chased by volunteers (civilian auxiliaries of the army) and soldiers".

The attack was affirmed by a security source, who put the death toll at "around 20", stressing that search operations are ongoing to find the assailants. 

The attackers "were hit by air support after taking refuge in the Barga forest," said another security source.

"Several of them died."

A fresh wave of violence

This comes shortly after a terror attack targeted farmers in Youlou, Burkina Faso, killing 33 people.

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Last week, Governor Babo Pierre Bassinga noted that "the village of Youlou in the department of Cheriba, Mouhoun province suffered a cowardly and barbaric terrorist attack," tracing the attack back to about 5:00 pm.

Moreover, Bassinga said that "the gunmen targeted peaceful civilians" who were farming along the river resulting in a "provisional death toll" that reached 33, all of whom were buried later on Friday.

According to local sources, the attack occurred as armed assailants opened fire from a moving vehicle toward farmers and indiscriminately killed them.

As the governor announced that security in the area will be enhanced, he also urged locals to "redouble their vigilance and continue collaborating with the fighting forces for a victory against terrorism and a definitive return of peace and stability."

Burkina Faso has been held in a death grip by a violent insurgency since 2015, and France had exploited this to maintain a military presence in the country. 

Sending troops in 2013 under the pretext of fighting terrorists in the Sahel region, France's security operation proved to be a failure in light of the proliferation of terrorism. The operation ended in February following the deterioration of France's ties with its ex-colony.

Back in March, Burkina Faso authorities indefinitely suspended French-based TV channel France 24 following the controversial airing of an interview with Yezid Mebarek, a militant leader affiliated with the terror organization AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb). Providing a platform for extremist organizations is not only equivalent to "acting as a communications officer for these terrorists but, worse, it is providing a space for the legitimization of terrorist actions and hate speech," authorities said.

The broadcaster, on the other hand, rebuked the government's accusations and condemned the decision to suspend the channel without due notice.

Read more: In an unprecedented leap, Burkina Faso, DPRK to revive diplomatic ties

Kidnapped Australian Dr. Ken Elliott released 

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, on Friday, that Australian doctor Kenneth Elliott, 88, had been released seven years after he and his wife were kidnapped in Burkina by militants. 

Since 1972, the pair had maintained the only medical clinic in Djibo, a village near the Mali border. Jocelyn, Elliott's wife, was released three weeks after her kidnapping.

According to the Australian authorities, her spouse returned to Australia on Thursday night. 

The government and Elliott's family "worked tirelessly" for his release, a governmental statement said,  providing no information about the circumstances behind his release.