Military forces in Nigeria successfully freed 31 people who were kidnapped during violent attacks on churches during Easter Sunday worship services in the country’s northwest region, according to army officials.
The assault occurred while congregants were attending Easter services in Ariko village, located in Kaduna state’s Kachia local government area. Military personnel discovered five bodies at the location and are currently tracking down those responsible for the attack.
According to Caleb Maaji, who leads the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Kaduna state chapter, gunmen targeted two separate churches in the village on Sunday. Maaji reported that seven people lost their lives and an undetermined number were abducted during the violence.
“Findings are still ongoing,” Maaji told Reuters.
This latest incident highlights the ongoing security challenges facing Nigeria’s northwest region, where criminal organizations have operated from remote forest camps for years, carrying out kidnapping schemes and village raids for financial gain.
