At least seven persons have been killed following an attack by suspected terrorists on two churches in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during Easter celebrations on Sunday, April 5.
The affected worship centres have been identified as the First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, both located within the community.
The councillor representing Awon Ward, Mark Bawa, who confirmed the incident, said details of the casualties were still being verified.
“I am currently on my way to the community to ascertain the exact number of casualties. Some sources said seven persons were killed, while others claimed eight. I will provide an update once details are confirmed,” he said.
Bawa disclosed that the attackers stormed the area in large numbers, surrounding the community before opening fire on worshippers.
“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,” he added.
He further attributed the scale of the attack to poor telecommunications coverage in the area, which may have delayed a swift security response.
The incident comes barely a week after a similar attack in Jos, Plateau State, where over 20 people were killed during Palm Sunday celebrations, raising fresh concerns over the safety of worshippers in parts of northern Nigeria.
