Seven people are feared dead and several others abducted after armed bandits attacked two churches in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Easter Sunday. The assault occurred during worship services, with gunmen invading the Christian worship centres and opening fire on congregants. Survivors reported chaos as worshippers scattered, some fleeing into nearby bushes to escape the violence. Local sources confirmed the fatalities and abductions but exact numbers remain unclear. The Nigerian Police Force has not issued an official statement on the incident. Residents of Ariko, a predominantly Christian community, described the attack as one of the most brazen in recent months. No group has claimed responsibility, though similar attacks in the region have previously been linked to armed criminal gangs operating in the Northwest. Security forces were reportedly deployed to the area hours after the incident. One survivor said, "They shot without warning and took many people with them." Community leaders have called for urgent intervention to protect vulnerable villages.
The targeting of churches on Easter Sunday underscores the deteriorating security in Kaduna's rural communities. Seven deaths and multiple abductions in Ariko point to the inability of existing security measures to protect civilians during high-risk periods. For ordinary Nigerians in the region, attending religious services now carries life-threatening risk. The silence from the Nigerian Police Force in the aftermath deepens public anxiety over accountability and response efficiency.
