Nigerian Military Frees 31 Hostages After Church Attack

The Nigerian military has freed 31 hostages who were taken by militants during an attack on a church in the northwestern state of Kaduna.

An armed group attacked worshippers during an Easter service in the village of Ariko in the Kachia district, according to Reuters.

At the scene of the incident, soldiers discovered the bodies of five victims. Army units are currently pursuing the attackers, who are attempting to flee after committing the crime.

Caleb Maaji, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State, reported an attack on two churches in the village of Ariko. According to him, seven people were killed as a result of the militants’ actions.

In a comment to Reuters, a representative of the religious organization noted that the exact number of people abducted is currently unknown. Experts are currently continuing to investigate all the circumstances of the tragedy.

The local population constantly faces violence from armed gangs. The northwestern regions of Nigeria have suffered for years from mass kidnappings for ransom and regular raids on villages.

As a reminder, the US has deployed a ‘small group’ of military personnel to Nigeria to assist local forces in countering terrorist groups, particularly those linked to the Islamic State.