Suspected terrorists have attacked Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing at least seven people and abducting several others during Easter celebrations.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Easter Sunday when heavily armed gunmen stormed the area, targeting two churches, the ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kaduna, where worshippers had gathered.
The councillor representing Awon Ward, Mark Bawa, confirmed the incident, noting that the exact number of casualties was still being verified, with reports ranging between seven and eight deaths.
According to him, the attackers arrived in large numbers, surrounded the community, and opened fire indiscriminately, killing worshippers and taking several others into the bush.
“I am currently on my way to the community to ascertain the exact number of casualties. Some sources said seven persons were killed, while others claimed eight. I will provide an update once details are confirmed,” Bawa said.
“The attackers came in large numbers. They surrounded the area and began shooting sporadically at worshippers. Several people were killed, while many others were taken away into the bush,” he added.
Residents said the assailants operated for an extended period without resistance, raising concerns over the vulnerability of rural communities and the lack of timely security response, partly due to poor telecommunications in the area.
The Kaduna State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the attack as of the time of filing this report.
Credit: The Sun