Islamic militants killed at least 10 Christians last Monday, including a Pentecostal pastor, in Benue state, Nigeria, local residents said.

The middle belt of Nigeria has seen increasing sectarian attacks as militants from the majority Muslim North, including Fulani herdsmen, encroach upon the majority Christian south where the land owning farmers tend to be Christian. Church leaders frequently complain that the Government is not doing enough to protect local people.

The Rev. Simon Nbach of Flaming Fire Ministry and the other Christians were massacred in the attack on Anwule Oglewu village of Ohimini County as farmers were working in their fields, residents said. The assailants also burned down a Catholic Church building and destroyed dozens of homes.

“The pastor’s corpse has been found, alongside two other corpses of two other Christians, Adoya Ejigai, and Ejeh Loko,” area resident Casmir Eigege told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “So far, 10 Christians have been confirmed dead, and one other Christian was abducted by the herdsmen.”

Eigege identified the attackers as Fulani herdsmen.