Troops of the Nigerian Army rescued 31 civilians on Sunday after foiling a terrorist attack on a church service in Ariko Village, located in the Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The intervention followed a distress call reporting that terrorists had stormed an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) during an Easter service and abducted several worshippers. Mobilizing quickly with the assistance of local community members, troops pursued the attackers into the bush.
A fierce gun battle ensued, with the Army reporting that superior firepower eventually overwhelmed the criminals. Under heavy pressure, the terrorists abandoned 31 hostages and fled. Among the rescued is one injured victim who is currently receiving medical treatment.
While 31 lives were saved, the Army confirmed the recovery of the remains of five victims who had been killed by the terrorists prior to the troops’ arrival.
”The fleeing terrorists are believed to have sustained significant casualties, as evidenced by blood trails along their escape routes,” the Army stated in an official release.
Search-and-rescue operations have since been intensified to track the attackers to their enclaves and ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice. Additional reinforcements have been deployed to Ariko and surrounding areas to bolster security and prevent further incursions.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to citizen protection and urged the public to continue providing timely information to security agencies to help maintain regional stability.
