By Mike Odeh James
(Kaduna) Fulani Ethnic militia on motorbikes stormed four villages during Easter Sunday services in Southern Kaduna, shooting dead at least 15 worshippers and dragging dozens into the surrounding bush — before Nigerian Army troops fought their way in and freed 31 captives.
The attack struck Ariko community in Kachia County, Kaduna State, as Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) members descended on congregations celebrating Easter — one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar. At the same time, Fulani gunmen struck three villages in neighboring Kajuru county, killing three Christians.
Two Churches Hit in Quick Succession
The gunmen in Kachia County targeted the First ECWA Church first, then swept directly to St. Augustine Catholic Church nearby, moving with a precision that suggested advance planning and reconnaissance.
“They attacked First ECWA Church first and after shooting, went straight to the Catholic church nearby. They were Fulani — they were speaking Fulfulde. They were heavily armed and came in large numbers, invading the community in the early hours of Sunday while worshippers had gathered for Easter celebrations,” said Kimbe Danjuma, a 26-year-old student and Awon resident.
“They could number 30 — many on motorbikes, others on foot. They went away with many men and women,” he added.
Worshippers Shot, Community Surrounded
The attackers encircled the community before opening fire, cutting off any escape.
“They came in large numbers, encircled the community and began shooting sporadically at worshippers. Several people were killed instantly, while others were taken into the bush,” said Mark Bawa, the councillor representing Awon Ward.
Villagers counted seven dead in the immediate aftermath. When Army troops swept the area hours later, they recovered five more bodies — victims shot and abandoned in the bush — bringing the confirmed death toll in Ariko to 12.
Ariko sits roughly 60 miles southeast of Kaduna city along the A235 highway. The nearest military base is in Gurara, approximately a two-hour bike ride away — a response gap that armed groups have exploited repeatedly across rural Kaduna.
Army Fights Back, Rescues 31
After a distress call reached security forces, troops mobilized and pursued the attackers into the surrounding bush, engaging them in a sustained firefight.
“The troops advanced in pursuit of the fleeing terrorists and overwhelmed them with superior firepower. The pressure mounted by the advancing troops forced the terrorists to abandon 31 hostages,” the Army said in a statement posted on its official X handle Sunday evening, and reported by Sahara Reporters.
Guided by community members familiar with the terrain, soldiers forced the militants to retreat. Thirty-one captives were freed. One was injured and is receiving medical treatment.
Simultaneous Strikes in Kajuru
The violence was not confined to Kachia. Maro Ward (a voting district holding at least 20,000 people) in Kajuru County was hit at almost the same hour on Easter Sunday morning.
“The Fulani Ethnic Militia came on motorbikes carrying heavy guns. They attacked three villages in Maro, killing at least one person in each and abducting about three others,” said Ado Waziri, a member of the Maro community-guard group.
Churches Targeted
This attack fits a documented pattern: armed groups timed assaults to coincide with religious services, when communities are most concentrated and least able to defend themselves. The tactic has been flagged by international monitors and cited in U.S. Congressional hearings as evidence of deliberate religious targeting in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Easter Sunday’s bloodshed is the latest episode in a sustained campaign of kidnapping and killing across Kachia County. In the last 60 days alone, roughly 200 people have been abducted in the area, according to aggregated incident data and TruthNigeria reporting.
The largest single incident was logged on January 18, 2026, when 183 worshippers were seized from churches in Kurmin Wali along the Kachia–Kajuru corridor and marched into the Rijana forest network — a known detention and ransom hub. Most were eventually released, though the terms remain unclear.
On December 11, 2025, seven residents were abducted in Agunu Dutse: https://prnigeria.com/2026/03/15/military-rescues-hostages/ On Thursday, April 2, 2026, ten more were taken in Unguwar Sabon-Titi.
Forest Network Built for Profit
Behind the attacks lies an organized criminal infrastructure spanning Kachia, Kajuru, and Chikun Counties. The Rijana forest complex — with satellite camps in Jan Dutse, Enugwu, and Doka — functions as a detention- and negotiation network where captives are held for ransom.
Between 800 and 850 people are estimated to be held across this network. More than ₦531.5 million — roughly $385,000 — already has reportedly been paid in ransom. Analysts call it a “hostage economy:” smaller, repeated abductions that generate steady revenue while avoiding the mass-casualty headlines that draw international scrutiny.
Region Under Siege
Sunday’s Army rescue was swift and significant — but it did not break the cycle. Twelve people died at Easter services in Ariko. Three more were killed in Kajuru. Thirty-one survivors were pulled from the bush. Three others remain missing.
Mike Odeh James is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
