A terrorist attack, following fighting in a remote area of Burkina Faso near the border with Mali, has left over 120 people dead, the country’s officials said on Friday.

A government statement issued on Thursday night said 65 civilians and 58 jihadists were killed in the attack, which took place near the town of Arbinda, in the north of the country.

Fierce gun battles between members of a terrorist militia and the army led to a blood bath.

The country’s police said on Facebook on Thursday that they had routed some 400 jihadists.

In addition, security forces said they recovered large quantities of weapons and ammunition from the scene.

Armed groups are said to be active in the West African country, some of which have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State or Al-Qaeda.

Despite being spared attacks for many years, since 2015, Burkina Faso has seen a significant increase in militia terror.

According to the United Nations, more than 1.2 million people have been internally displaced while fleeing violence at the hands of Islamist militia groups.