Easter Sunday Attack on Churches in Kaduna Leaves Several Dead, Others Abducted

At least seven worshippers have been confirmed dead following coordinated attacks on two churches in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during Easter Sunday services.

The attacks occurred in the early hours of the day as congregants gathered to mark Easter. The attackers targeted the First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, opening fire on worshippers and abducting an unspecified number of people.

Mark Bawa, councillor representing Awon Ward, confirmed the incident, stating that the assailants arrived in large numbers and surrounded the area before launching the attack.

According to him, “The attackers came in large numbers. They surrounded the area and began shooting sporadically at worshippers. Several people were killed, and many others were taken away into the bush.”

Bawa said casualty figures remain uncertain, with initial reports indicating between seven and eight deaths. He added that he was en route to the community to verify details.

Residents reported that the attackers operated for an extended period without intervention. Bawa attributed the delayed response to poor telecommunications coverage in the area, which hindered efforts to alert security agencies.

The incident has renewed concerns about security gaps in rural parts of southern Kaduna, where community leaders have repeatedly warned of limited security presence.

The latest attack follows a similar incident in February 2026 in Kurmin Wali, also in Kachia LGA, where worshippers were abducted during a church service.

As of the time of reporting, the Kaduna State Police Command has not issued an official statement. Calls to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, were not answered.