A Nigerian pastor says Boko Haram terrorists have killed 8,000 members, 70 percent, of his church.
Rev. Samuel Dali is president of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. At his office in Jos, Dali told journalists the terror group has destroyed church facilities in Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno states, leaving most of his pastors without jobs.
He also said 176 of the 276 Chibok girls kidnapped last year were from his church.
Earlier this month, Boko Haram jihadists slit the throats of 16 Christianfishermen in three villages in Borno state.
The head of Borno state's fisher's union told AFP they used knives to slaughter their victims so as not to alert soldiers from Baga, a town in northeastern Nigeria near Lake Chad.
Still, Dali said he's hopeful the end of the terrorist group is near.
"Nigeria will overcome the Boko Haram challenge soon," he said.