Suspected terrorists have attacked the Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing at least seven people and abducting several others during Easter celebrations.
The early Sunday morning assault targeted two churches – First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church – throwing the community into panic as worshippers gathered for prayers.
A local official, Mark Bawa, councillor representing Awon Ward where the Ariko district is located, confirmed the incident, noting that casualty figures remain uncertain, with some reports indicating seven deaths and others suggesting eight.
Residents said the attackers stormed the community in large numbers, surrounded the area, and opened fire indiscriminately on worshippers before abducting several victims and taking them into nearby bushes.
They attributed the scale of the attack partly to poor telecommunications coverage, which may have delayed emergency response and allowed the assailants to operate for an extended period without resistance.
The prolonged operation has further underscored the vulnerability of rural communities in the area, especially during religious gatherings and festive periods.
The latest incident comes barely two months after a similar attack in Kurmin Wali, also in Kachia Local Government Area, where worshippers were abducted during a church gathering in February 2026.
As of the time of filing this report, police authorities have yet to release full details. The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, indicated that further information would be provided, while security operatives are expected to intensify efforts to track the assailants and rescue the abducted victims.
Security experts say the recurring attacks highlight persistent threats facing communities in Southern Kaduna, with increasing concerns over inadequate security presence and response, particularly in remote areas.
In some other remote areas in Nasarawa State, Police authorities have confirmed the death of 11 persons and the destruction of over 50 houses following a violent communal clash that occurred on Friday in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities of Nasarawa Local Government Area.
The incident, which reportedly took place around 8:30 a.m. on April 3, 2026, was triggered by a reprisal attack carried out by suspected militants over the alleged killing of two of their kinsmen.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the attack resulted in 11 fatalities, while approximately 52 houses were razed across the affected communities. Most of the destruction occurred in Akyawa, where about 50 houses were burnt, while at least two houses were destroyed in Udege Kasa.
Some reports have also identified victims from multiple nearby settlements, indicating that the violence affected not only Akyawa and Udege Kasa but also surrounding villages, highlighting the wider spread and impact of the crisis.
In response, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, led a delegation on an on-the-spot assessment visit to evaluate the extent of the damage and reassure residents.
During the visit, the CP expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and destruction of property, commiserating with affected families and reiterating the Command’s commitment to ensuring justice. He subsequently ordered an intensive manhunt for those responsible, directing tactical and investigative teams to ensure their identification, arrest, and prosecution.
To prevent further escalation, security has been significantly reinforced in the area through a joint operation involving the Police, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local vigilante groups.
A stakeholders’ meeting was also convened during the visit, where community members were urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible intelligence to aid ongoing investigations.
Authorities say normalcy has largely been restored, although residents remain apprehensive, with some displaced and fearful of renewed attacks.
The incident is part of a pattern of recurring communal and reprisal violence in the region, often linked to local disputes and cycles of retaliation, which continue to threaten peace and livelihoods in Nasarawa State and parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
