Thirty-one civilians taken hostage following a Sunday morning attack on a church in north-west Nigeria's Kaduna state have been rescued, according to a statement from the army. The incident occurred during Easter celebrations in Ariko, with soldiers engaging the attackers in what was described as a "fierce firefight," forcing them to flee and abandon the hostages along with the bodies of the dead victims.
Officials reported that five people were killed in the assault, though a local church official had earlier put the death toll at seven. The army stated that the "fleeing terrorists" suffered "significant casualties, as evidenced by blood trails along their escape routes," and troops have been deployed to hunt the insurgents and reinforce security in the area.
Attacks and kidnappings for ransom are common in northern Nigeria, as the country grapples with security threats from jihadist groups and armed gangs, locally referred to as bandits. While the army claimed a swift response to Sunday's attack, local media reports indicate that residents said the gunmen operated for an extended period without facing resistance, raising questions about the effectiveness of security measures.
In a separate incident, Nigeria's military killed 65 bandits following an offensive in Zamfara state, the AFP news agency reported on Sunday. This comes days after a large group of bandits abducted residents from villages in the state, with police confirming on Saturday that a mass abduction had occurred earlier in the week and a manhunt was underway.
Late last year, the administration of US President Donald Trump raised concerns about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria, urging the government to do more to improve security and strengthen protection for Christian communities. Trump had previously claimed there was a "Christian genocide" underway in Nigeria—an allegation strongly rejected by Nigeria's government, which stated that Muslims, Christians, and people of no faith are all victims of attacks. In February, US troops were deployed to Nigeria to train its forces and provide intelligence support in the fight against Islamist militants and other armed groups, highlighting the ongoing international involvement in the region's security challenges.
Source: www.bbc.com