Nigerian Army Rescues 31 Worshippers After Easter Church Attack in Kaduna State
The Nigerian army successfully rescued 31 civilians who were held hostage following an attack on an Easter church service in Ariko, Kaduna state. The attack, which occurred on a Sunday morning, resulted in the deaths of five individuals, although a local church official initially reported seven fatalities. The army engaged the attackers in a fierce firefight, which led to the assailants fleeing and abandoning the hostages. This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence in northern Nigeria, where kidnappings and attacks by jihadist groups and armed gangs, known locally as bandits, are common. 
