Amid Eatser celebrations, gunmen have attacked Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, targeting two Christian worship centres, killing at least seven persons and abducting several others.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, has thrown the community into panic.
Mark Bawa, the council member for Awon Ward, which includes Ariko District, confirmed the attack on Sunday.
He claims that First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, both in Ariko, were impacted.
“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.
He stated that the attackers might have been able to carry out the assault without an instant response due to the area’s inadequate telecommunications coverage.
The tragic incident comes barely a week after similar attack was launched on an unsuspecting community in Jos on Palm Sunday.
Residents reported that the attackers operated for a long time without encountering any opposition, which raised more worries about the state’s rural villages’ vulnerability.
The latest incident also comes barely two months after a similar incident in the Kurmin Wali community, also in Kachia LGA, where scores of worshippers were abducted during a church gathering in February 2026.
Outrage and calls for increased security in Southern Kaduna were rekindled after that occurrence.
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said he would provide further details regarding the tragic incident.
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