Five people were killed and 29 abducted when armed bandits attacked The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Arikon community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during Easter service. A security source revealed the attackers arrived on over 20 motorcycles, surrounding the church while worship was ongoing. Gunfire erupted as the bandits dismounted, targeting those attempting to flee. The victims were identified as Tanko Haruna, Waziri Agunu, Aminu Soba, Joseph Audu and Adamu Jatau.
The attack also affected nearby worshippers at a Catholic Church, where one person was shot and killed while running from the gunfire. Among those abducted are Garba Tanko, his wife Lami Garba, their daughter Rachel Garba and grandson Moses Yakubu. Others taken include Rahab Usman and her daughter Victoria Rahab, Sunday Ayuba, Dantani Alhaji, his wife Mrs Mary Dantani, and their three daughters—Helen, Rejoice and Ahmadu.
Kaduna State Police Commissioner CP Rabiu Mohammed and Nigerian Army Sector 4 Commander Col. IR ADOM led a convoy of more than 30 vehicles to assess the situation. The community has since been abandoned, with residents fleeing to Katari, Jere and Kachia towns. DSP Hassan Mansur, spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, had not issued a statement on the incident at press time.
The identification of victims and abductees by security sources points to a targeted and coordinated assault, not random violence. CP Rabiu Mohammed's immediate deployment to Arikon signals the severity of the attack, yet the delayed public statement from police undermines confidence in crisis communication. For Nigerians in rural Kaduna, the speed of military response matters less than the persistent failure to prevent such attacks during high-risk periods. The presence of over 30 vehicles at the scene cannot mask the reality: another community has been left to flee for survival.
