A group of worshippers who were taken hostage during Easter celebrations in northern Nigeria have been released after a military intervention in Kaduna state. Security forces tracked the attackers to a rural area and launched an operation that resulted in the safe recovery of 31 people who had been abducted from churches.
The нападение happened in the village of Ariko, located north of Abuja. Armed men entered religious buildings during holiday services, fired at civilians, and forced many people into captivity. When soldiers reached the area, an exchange of gunfire followed, after which the attackers fled and left part of the hostages behind.
Early reports from officials mentioned five fatalities, but representatives of local Christian organizations later said the number of victims was higher. According to regional church leader Caleb Bawa Ma’aji, seven people were killed, and the event has been described as one of the most tragic incidents for the community in recent months.
Several churches were affected, including both Catholic and evangelical congregations. The incident occurred even though authorities had introduced special security measures across the country for the Easter holiday, including additional patrols and security presence near places of worship.
Mass kidnappings have become increasingly common in Kaduna in recent months. Earlier this year, large groups of churchgoers were taken during services in a separate incident involving more than 170 victims. Some managed to escape later, while others were freed only after negotiations.
The wider region has long struggled with attacks carried out by armed gangs often referred to locally as bandits. These groups typically raid settlements, abduct residents, and demand ransom money. Although their main goal is usually financial, security officials are increasingly worried about possible cooperation between criminal gangs and extremist organizations active in other parts of the country.
Military representatives did not provide details about the identity of the attackers involved in the Easter нападение and described them only as terrorists, without clarifying whether they were criminal groups or Islamist militants.
Violence in northwestern and central parts of Nigeria continues despite ongoing military campaigns, and the security situation has drawn attention internationally. Former US President Donald Trump previously stated that Christians in Nigeria were facing genocide, although this claim remains disputed.
In another military operation carried out in Zamfara state, security sources reported that dozens of suspected bandits were killed during a separate offensive. This operation was conducted in a different location from where authorities had earlier reported another large kidnapping incident.
