Islamic militants killed 26 people in a church in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso, according to the Papal charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

The incident took place in the village of Sanaba, in the Diocese of Nouna, in the west of the country, on 25 August.

A large group of insurgents surrounded the community and bound all men over the age of 12 who were Christian, followers of traditional religions, or were considered opponents of the Jihadis. The terrorists then led them to a nearby Protestant church and slit the throats of 26 men.

The attack took place only one day after the massacre in the village of Barsalogho, in the Dioceses of Kaya where at least 150 people were killed, although the actual number may be as high as 250, according to local sources, with another 150 seriously injured.

The same sources spoke of attacks on three parishes near the border with Mali with the result that around 5,000 women and children sought refuge in a local city. A source said there is not a single man among them.

“The whereabouts of the male population is still uncertain, we don’t know if they escaped, if they are hiding, or if they were murdered,” says the source.