Sunday’s raid took place in the small northern town of Silgadji near Djibo, the capital of Soum province.
“Unidentified armed individuals have attacked the Protestant church in Silgadji, killing four members of the congregation and the main pastor,” a security source told AFP.
“At least two other people are missing,” the source added.
It was the first attack on a church since jihadist violence erupted in Burkina Faso in 2015.
Former colonial ruler France has deployed some 4,500 troops in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad in a mission codenamed Barkhane to help local forces try to flush out jihadist groups.
“The attack happened around 1:00 pm, just as the faithful were leaving the church at the end of the service,” a member of the church who did not want to be identified told AFP.
Lord have mercy
Jihadists kill pastor, four others in Burkina church attack https://t.co/uNoovF4rXU
— BAME Anglican 💛 (@BAMEAnglican) April 29, 2019