Pastor, 23 others killed by gunmen in Burkina Faso church attack

A total of 24 people, including the pastor, have been confirmed dead after a group of unknown gunmen stormed a Protestant church in a village in northern Burkina Faso.

Confirming the report on Monday, the regional governor revealed that about 18 other people were left injured during the attack.

A group of “armed terrorists” burst into the village of Pansi, in Yagha province “and attacked the peaceful local population after having identified them and separated them from non-residents”, Colonel Salfo Kabore said in a statement sent to AFP.

The assault occurred on Sunday during a weekly service, security officials said.

“The provisional toll is 24 killed, including the pastor… 18 wounded and individuals who were kidnapped,” Kabore said.

Jihadist insurgents have reportedly killed around 750 people in Burkina since 2015 with around 600,000 people rendered homeless having fled their homes.

Christians and churches have become frequent targets in the north of the country.

On February 10, suspected jihadists in Sebba seized seven people at the home of a pastor. Five bodies were found three days later, including the pastor, according to the local governor.

According to UN figures, jihadist attacks in Burkina and neighbouring Mali and Niger left nearly 4,000 people dead last year.

Their armed forces are weak, struggling with poor equipment and lack of training and funding.

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