Seven people were killed and several others abducted when gunmen attacked two churches in the Ariko community of Kachia Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Easter Sunday. The attacks occurred at the First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church during morning worship. Mark Bawa, the councillor for Awon Ward, confirmed the assault, stating that initial reports indicated between seven and eight fatalities. He described how the attackers surrounded the churches and opened fire indiscriminately before taking hostages into the bush. Poor network coverage in the area delayed emergency alerts and response efforts. The gunmen operated for an extended period without resistance, exposing security gaps in rural communities. This incident follows a similar attack in February 2026 in Kurmin Wali, also in Kachia, where worshippers were abducted during a church service. Police spokesperson Mansir Hassan said official details would be released after a preliminary assessment.
Mark Bawa's account of gunmen moving unchecked through Ariko during Easter services reveals how fragile security remains in southern Kaduna's rural zones. With seven confirmed dead and more abducted, the recurrence of church attacks since the February 2026 incident in Kurmin Wali suggests a pattern the state has not contained. For residents, religious gatherings now carry the risk of violence, undermining freedom of worship. The inability to secure these communities erodes public trust in safety assurances.
