Heavily armed terrorists stormed two churches in the Ariko community of Kachia Local Government Area, Kaduna State, during Easter Sunday celebrations early on Sunday, killing at least seven worshippers and abducting several others.
The attackers targeted the First Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and St. Augustine Catholic Church, both located in the Ariko District. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen arrived in large numbers, surrounded the area, and opened sporadic fire on congregants gathered for morning worship, plunging the rural community into chaos.
Mark Bawa, the councillor representing Awon Ward, which includes Ariko, confirmed the incident in a phone interview with journalists. “The attackers came in large numbers, surrounded the area, and began shooting sporadically at worshippers,” he said.
Bawa added that he was heading to the community to verify the exact casualty figures.
Initial reports indicated seven deaths, although some local accounts mentioned up to eight.
The number of abducted persons remains unconfirmed as rescue and verification efforts continue.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu, SAN, acknowledged the attack, describing it as happening in a village near Kateri town.
As of the time of reporting, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued an official statement.
Residents blamed the prolonged nature of the assault partly on poor telecommunications coverage in the remote area, which delayed alerts to security forces.
This incident is part of a recurring pattern of attacks on Christian worship centers and rural communities in southern Kaduna.
In February 2026, a similar raid in the same local government area led to the abduction of dozens of worshippers, many of whom were later rescued.
No group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack.
The tragedy has renewed calls for increased security in the violence-prone region as families mourn the dead and search for loved ones taken into the surrounding.
Administrator and Writer
