Nigeria’s military said on Sunday it had rescued 31 worshipers taken hostage during an attack on a church in northwestern Kaduna state.
“Through quick response, (troops) have successfully foiled a terrorist attack, rescuing 31 civilians who were abducted during an Easter church service”, the army said in a statement.
It said troops engaged in a “fight” with the attackers, forcing “the terrorists to release 31 hostages.”
What else do we know about church attacks in Nigeria?
Local media reported that a Catholic and an Evangelical church were attacked.
Caleb Maji, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria for Kaduna state, also said the attackers targeted two churches in Ariko village on Sunday.
He said seven people were killed and several others were abducted. However, the army said that five victims were found dead at the scene.
The attack in Ariko village, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of the capital Abuja, came despite the police chief ordering a “massive security deployment” including at places of worship during Easter.
Increasing violence in Nigeria
For years, several states in northwest and central Nigeria, including Kaduna, have been terrorized by criminal gangs, locally known as bandits, who carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and village raids.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is seeing a surge in violence despite the military tightening security in the area to deal with the groups.
For example, in January, gunmen attacked churches during mass in Kaduna and arrested more than 170 worshippers.
The security situation has attracted the attention of US President Donald Trump, who has described the violence in Nigeria as a “genocide” of Christians.
Nigeria, home to more than 250 ethnic groups, is largely divided between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south, with significant mixing in the central regions.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery