According to the Nigerian army, 31 worshippers taken hostage during an attack on a church in Ariko village in northwestern Kaduna state during Easter celebrations have been rescued. The military stated in a release that "through a swift response, (troops) have successfully foiled a terrorist attack leading to the rescue of 31 civilians abducted during an Easter church service."

During the attack, troops engaged the assailants in a "firefight," forcing the "terrorists to abandon 31 hostages." Local media reported that a Catholic and an evangelical church were targeted. The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria for Kaduna state, Caleb Maaji, also confirmed that two churches in Ariko village were attacked on Sunday.

Maaji added that seven people were killed and several others were abducted. However, the military said five victims were found dead at the scene. This attack occurred in Ariko village, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of the capital Abuja, despite the police chief ordering a "massive security deployment" including at places of worship during Easter.

For years, several states in northwest and central Nigeria, including Kaduna, have been terrorized by criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, which carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and village raids. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has continued to see a rise in violence despite the army beefing up security in the region to combat these groups.

For instance, in January, gunmen attacked churches during mass in Kaduna and rounded up more than 170 worshippers. The security situation has drawn the attention of US President Donald Trump, who has characterized the violence in Nigeria as a "genocide" of Christians. Nigeria, home to over 250 ethnic groups, is roughly divided between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south, with significant mixing in central regions.

Source: www.dw.com