Kaduna, Nigeria – Thirty-one civilians held hostage after a Sunday morning attack on a church in Ariko, Kaduna State have been rescued, according to the Nigerian Army. The assault during Easter celebrations left at least five people dead, although a local church official initially reported seven fatalities.
“Our soldiers engaged the attackers in a fierce firefight, forcing them to flee and leaving behind the hostages and the bodies of the victims,” the army said in an official statement.
Security forces noted that the assailants, armed gunmen, had operated for a prolonged period before encountering resistance, highlighting persistent security challenges in northern Nigeria, where attacks and kidnappings for ransom by jihadist groups and armed gangs, locally called bandits, are common.
“The fleeing terrorists suffered significant casualties, as evidenced by blood trails along their escape routes,” the army added. Troops have since been deployed to hunt the insurgents and reinforce security in the region.
The military also urged residents to report information that could assist operations against groups responsible for the country’s insecurity.
In a separate operation, Nigerian forces killed 65 bandits in Zamfara State, following mass abductions from villages earlier in the week, AFP reported. Police confirmed the abductions and said a manhunt was launched immediately.
The attack comes amid ongoing international concern over the security of Christian communities in Nigeria. In late 2025, the Trump administration raised alarms about attacks on Christians and urged the Nigerian government to bolster protection. Trump had controversially referred to the violence as a “Christian genocide,” a claim strongly rejected by Nigerian authorities, who emphasized that Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith are all victims of armed violence.
US troops were deployed to Nigeria in February to train local forces and provide intelligence support in combating Islamist militants and armed gangs.
The Ariko church attack underscores the continued volatility in northern Nigeria and the urgent need for coordinated security measures to protect civilians, especially during religious and public gatherings.
