Nigeria’s army said Sunday it had rescued 31 worshippers taken hostage during an attack on a church in Ariko village in northwestern Kaduna state.
“Through a swift response, (troops) have successfully foiled a terrorist attack leading to the rescue of 31 civilians abducted during an Easter church service,” the military said, adding that troops engaged the attackers in a “firefight,” forcing the “terrorists to abandon 31 hostages.”
Local media and the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Kaduna state chairman, Caleb Maaji, reported that both a Catholic and an evangelical church were attacked and that assailants targeted two churches in Ariko. Maaji said seven people were killed and several others abducted; the military said five victims were found dead at the scene.
Ariko is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of the capital, Abuja. The attack occurred despite the police chief ordering a “massive security deployment,” including at places of worship during Easter.
For years, parts of northwest and central Nigeria, including Kaduna, have been terrorized by criminal gangs known locally as bandits, who carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and village raids. Violence has risen despite increased military operations in the region. In January, gunmen attacked churches during mass in Kaduna and rounded up more than 170 worshippers.
The security situation has drawn international attention, with some foreign figures describing the violence against Christians in Nigeria in stark terms. Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups and is roughly divided between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south, with significant mixing in central regions.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery