Missing worshippers still in captivity, Kaduna community disputes Army’s rescue claim

Missing worshippers still in captivity, Kaduna community disputes Army’s rescue claim

Confusion and anger have trailed the Nigerian Army’s claim that it rescued some of the 31 abducted worshippers following a deadly Easter Sunday attack on a church in Kaduna State, as residents insist no such rescue took place.

The military had announced that troops repelled gunmen who stormed a church in Ariko during Easter celebrations, freeing dozens of captives in the process. It also put the death toll at five.

But on the ground, a different story is emerging.

Community leaders and residents say the abducted victims remain in the hands of their captors, casting doubt on the army’s version of events and deepening fears among families still awaiting news of their loved ones.

“As far as we are concerned, all the abducted victims are still with the bandits,” said Joseph Ariko, president of the Ariko community association, in an interview with the BBC.

He challenged the military to provide details of those allegedly rescued.

The army has yet to respond to the claims.
In its earlier statement, the military said soldiers engaged the attackers in a “fierce firefight,” forcing them to flee and abandon both hostages and the bodies of victims.

It also suggested the attackers suffered heavy casualties, citing blood trails along their escape routes.

However, residents told local media that the gunmen operated for an extended period without resistance—raising fresh questions about the speed and effectiveness of the military response.

Doubts over the rescue narrative were echoed by John Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria, who said he found no evidence of any freed captives after speaking with locals.
“Nobody has been rescued… If they are rescued, where did they take them to?” he asked.
Beyond the conflicting accounts, the tragedy has once again spotlighted the persistent insecurity across northern Nigeria, where attacks on communities, mass abductions, and ransom demands have become disturbingly routine.
While the army says troops have been deployed to track down the attackers and reinforce security, residents remain sceptical, urging authorities to prioritise transparency and accountability.
In a separate development, security forces reportedly killed 65 bandits during an offensive in Zamfara State, according to AFP, just days after another mass abduction in the region triggered a manhunt.
Nigeria’s security crisis has also drawn international attention.

Under Donald Trump, the United States previously raised concerns about violence affecting Christian communities, although the Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of targeted religious persecution, maintaining that victims cut across faiths.

In February, US troops were deployed to Nigeria to support military training and intelligence sharing in the fight against insurgents and armed groups.

For residents of Ariko, however, the immediate concern is far more personal: the fate of those still missing—and the growing gap between official assurances and lived reality.