A tragic incident unfolded on Easter Sunday in the Ariko community within the Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as terrorists, suspected to be bandits, carried out coordinated attacks on two Christian worship centers. The brutal assaults, which occurred during the early hours of the morning, resulted in the deaths of at least seven people and the abduction of several others, throwing the entire community into a state of panic.

The targeted worship centers were identified as the First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church. Congregants were celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ when the attackers, described as arriving in large numbers, laid siege to the churches. Mark Bawa, the Councillor representing Awon Ward, confirmed the harrowing details to the press. He stated that the assailants surrounded the area and began shooting sporadically at worshippers, leading to multiple fatalities and numerous abductions as people were taken into the bush.

Councillor Bawa noted that initial sources indicated at least seven persons had been verified dead, though some claims put the number at eight. He was on his way to the community to ascertain the precise casualty figures, promising an update once details were confirmed. The gunmen's actions have been described as operating for a prolonged period without any meaningful resistance from security agencies, a fact that residents vehemently lamented.

The delayed response from security forces was attributed by Bawa to the chronic lack of telecommunications coverage in the rural district. This critical deficiency prevented locals from effectively calling for help as the slaughter unfolded. This vulnerability has once again sparked fresh concerns among Southern Kaduna leaders, who have consistently warned about the thinning security presence in the region's hinterlands.

This Easter Sunday attack is not an isolated incident but rather the latest in a troubling string of targeted attacks on religious gatherings in Kaduna State. Just two months prior, in February 2026, terrorists invaded the Kurmin Wali community, also in Kachia LGA, where scores of worshippers were similarly kidnapped during a church service. Despite the outrage and renewed calls for protection that followed the February incident, the recent bloodbath suggests that these killers continue to operate with alarming near-impunity in the region.

Attempts to secure an official response from the Kaduna State Police Command initially proved unsuccessful, as the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not answer multiple calls seeking confirmation of the casualty figures or the condition of the abducted victims. However, DSP Hassan later indicated that he would provide further details regarding the tragic incident, leaving the community awaiting an official statement.