Armenian gold hunters destroyed a church in Turkey. The church was located in the village of Tokular, Bingol province, Turkey.  

Tokular village head Fesih Kışlakçı said the village used to be Armenian and was called Togulkiran, Akunq.net reports.

“Numerous historical ruins can be found in our village. Unfortunately, these historical monuments are unconciously damaged. Our village has been continuously and repeatedly destroyed by treasure hunters. The Armenian groups which visited our village said the church was called Akos,” he told Dogan news agency.  

According to the source, one of the villagers, Abdurrahman Yilmaz, said many old ruins can also be found in the foundations of the houses built round the church. “Especially the surroundings of this church were full of monuments with depictions and signs. Our villagers didn’t know what they meant. But some foreigners used to often come here and    carry out excavations in the church. The church has turned into a tot lot. The state must take it under its protection. We found out from the old men of the village and the visiting Armenians that the church is Armenian and has a 800-year history,” Yilmaz said.