The Nigerian army announced it had freed 31 civilians abducted during an attack on a church in Kaduna State, in the northwest of the country, a region regularly affected by armed violence.
The attack occurred during an Easter religious service in the village of Ariko, where armed men stormed the premises. According to the army, five people were found dead at the scene.
Local officials are reporting an even higher death toll. According to the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State, two churches were targeted and at least seven people were killed, while several worshippers were kidnapped.
Security forces are currently pursuing the attackers, who are believed to have retreated into forested areas, often used as bases by armed groups operating in the region.
Northwest Nigeria has faced years of persistent insecurity, marked by mass kidnappings, attacks on villages and violence targeting civilians.
This latest attack illustrates the vulnerability of populations, including during religious gatherings, and underlines the major security challenges the country continues to face.
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