Gunmen kill 24, injure 18 people near Burkina Faso church in Africa

Gunmen kill 24, injure 18 people near Burkina Faso church in Africa

Gunmen in Burkina Faso killed 24 people, injured 18 others, kidnapped another 3 and looted local shops near a Protestant church on Sunday, Feb. 16. A pastor was among those reportedly killed in the attack.

Officials stated that approximately 20 attackers separated men and women near a Protestant church in Pansi before killing Christians and Muslims and setting fire to the church building. Human rights advocates are concerned that attacks against civilians, including Christians, in the West African nation are increasing “at an alarming rate,” said Corinne Dufka, West Africa’s director for Human Rights Watch.

In the week prior to the latest attack, also in Yagha province, a retired pastor was killed and another pastor was abducted by gunmen, according to an internal security report for aid workers seen by The Associated Press.

Burkina Faso is ranked No. 28 in Open Doors’ World Watch List 2020 of the world’s most dangerous places to be a Christian. That ranking is a rise of 33 spots from 2019. Christians in Burkina Faso say they are in a fight for survival, according to Open Doors.