Two dozen people were killed and 18 others injured when gunmen attacked a church in Burkina Faso.
The incident happened during the Sunday services at a Protestant church in the village of Pansi, located near the border of Niger. Col. Salfo Kabore, the regional governor, said that “armed terrorists attacked the peaceful local population after having identified them and separated them from non-residents.”
“The provisional toll is 24 killed, including the pastor … 18 wounded and individuals who were kidnapped,” Kabore added.
Last May, a group of 20 to 30 gunmen entered a Catholic church in the country and killed six people, including the priest. Last week, a pastor was kidnapped by gunmen, and another was killed in the same region of Burkina Faso.
It is not clear who is behind the attacks, but Burkina Faso has seen a dramatic spike in attacks linked to Islamist groups in the West African country. The nation is 55%-60% Muslim and roughly a quarter Christian.
