Terrorists on Sunday, March 5th attacked Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, targeting two churches during Easter celebrations, killing at least seven persons and abducting several others.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, throwing the community into panic. The affected churches are First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, both located in Ariko.
The councillor representing Awon Ward, Mark Bawa, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Sunday. He said he was on his way to the community to ascertain the exact number of casualties, adding that some sources reported seven killed while others claimed eight.
According to Bawa, the attackers came in large numbers, surrounded the area, and began shooting sporadically at worshippers. Several people were killed, and many others were taken away into the bush. He noted that poor telecommunications coverage in the area may have allowed the attackers to carry out the assault without immediate response.
Residents said the assailants operated for a prolonged period without resistance, raising further concerns about the vulnerability of rural communities in the state.
The latest attack 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.
