Nigerian Army Rescues 31 Hostages After Church Attack

Nigeria’s army said it rescued 31 people who were taken hostage after an Easter attack on a church in Ariko, Kaduna state, in an incident that also left five people dead.

Officials reported that security forces confronted the attackers at the scene. After the engagement, the assailants withdrew, leaving behind the hostages as well as the bodies of those killed during the attack. The death toll cited by the army was five, while earlier local accounts had put the number of fatalities at seven.

Reports also said the attackers suffered heavy losses during the clash with security forces, though no specific figures were provided. The military said operations were continuing to track down those responsible and to strengthen security in the area.

The Kaduna incident comes against a backdrop of persistent insecurity across parts of northern Nigeria, where kidnappings and armed assaults have remained a recurring threat. The latest rescue underscores how quickly attacks can escalate into hostage-taking, and how security responses can shape outcomes for civilians caught in such incidents.

In a separate development, reports said military forces killed 65 bandits in Zamfara state during an offensive. That operation was described as taking place days after a mass abduction of residents in the same state, linking the action to a broader pattern of violence and large-scale kidnappings in the region.

What remains unclear is the full identity and affiliation of the attackers involved in the Kaduna church assault, as well as the precise scale of casualties they sustained during the confrontation. Authorities said pursuit operations were ongoing, indicating the situation remains active and subject to further updates.