The district where the bodies were found has a history of Christian-Muslim violence as it is on the border with Plateau State, which has been rocked by sectarian violence in the last six years that has left hundreds dead

Funerals were underway Friday, April 16, in a Muslim-dominated northern Nigerian state for a pastor and his wife who were reportedly hacked to death and burnt to ashes by Muslim assailants.

The human remains of Pastor Ishaya Kadah of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) and his wife, Selina, were discovered Thursday, April 15, in the village of Boto in Bauchi State, two days after they were abducted, residents and officials said.

“We received a report on Tuesday [April 12] that a pastor and his wife were missing and a search team discovered the bodies two days later”, Bauchi State police commissioner Danlami Yar’Adua told French News Agency AFP.

“We have arrested two suspects and we are still looking for four other suspects in connection with the murder. We are on top of the situation,” Yar’Adua was quoted as saying.

Bauchi Governor Isah Yuguda, has reportedly expressed his condolences, and has contributed towards funeral expenses and the repair of the church building. Yuguda also promised to assist the couple’s children with the costs of their education, news reports said.

The district where the bodies were found has a history of Christian-Muslim violence as it is on the border with Plateau State, which has been rocked by sectarian violence in the last six years that has left hundreds dead.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said that the continuing attacks and “silent killings” during curfew hours have caused “many to question the army’s willingness or ability to protect them.”

CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said his organization has urged the Nigeria’s federal government to “review and adjust current security arrangement” and to “take decisive action against military personnel who are found to be involved in extrajudicial executions or attempted assassinations”.