A deadly attack marred Easter celebrations in Kaduna State as armed assailants invaded two churches in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area, leaving multiple worshippers dead and several others abducted.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday while congregants gathered to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The attackers reportedly targeted both the First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, opening fire on worshippers and causing chaos.
Mark Bawa, the councillor representing Awon Ward, confirmed the incident, describing it as a coordinated assault carried out by a large number of gunmen. According to him, the attackers surrounded the area before shooting indiscriminately and taking several victims into nearby bushland.
Initial reports indicate that at least seven people lost their lives, although the exact number of casualties remains unclear. Bawa noted that he was heading to the scene to verify details, as conflicting accounts suggest the death toll could be higher.
Residents expressed frustration over the apparent delay in security response, attributing it to poor telecommunications coverage in the rural area, which made it difficult to alert authorities during the attack.
Community leaders in Southern Kaduna have repeatedly raised concerns about inadequate security presence in remote areas, warning that such vulnerabilities continue to expose residents to violent attacks.
This latest incident follows a similar attack in February 2026 in Kurmin Wali, also within Kachia LGA, where numerous worshippers were abducted during a church service.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls to the police spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, went unanswered at the time of filing this report.