A Nigerian Christian group on Monday disputed an assertion by the army that it had rescued 31 people abducted by armed men in northern Kaduna state. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said that the victims remained in captivity. The Nigerian Army had said on Sunday that troops freed the civilians after gunmen stormed a church in Ariko village in Kaduna’s Kachia district.
The army also reported that five people were found dead at the scene. However, CAN chairman for the northern region, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, denied that any rescue had taken place. “Yes, the military are doing their best to get them back home, but it is not fair for the military to claim that the victims have been rescued,” Hayab told Reuters by phone.
Local Groups Reject Official Narrative of Kaduna Church Attack
Hayab expressed concern about misinformation following the Kaduna church attack. “Now we have misinformation. When we are busy denying, we are just giving the bandits the opportunity to strike and go freely,” he added. The Kurtumi Unity Development Association, a local resident group in Ariko, also dismissed the army’s assertion. The group called it “entirely false, misleading and does not reflect the current situation.”
Local resident and former Ariko village head Iliya Audu provided a different death toll. He put the final number at seven, not five. Audu said the burials had been held on Monday. “We are just returning from the burial of those killed. No single soul was rescued,” said Audu. His account directly contradicts the military’s version of events following the Kaduna church attack.
The Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters did not respond to repeated requests for comment on Monday. This lack of response leaves the conflicting accounts unresolved. CAN has previously challenged official accounts of kidnappings. Last November, the group disputed security forces’ figures following the abduction of students from a Catholic school in Niger state.
Security Concerns Mount After Kaduna Church Attack
The Kaduna church attack adds to a growing list of security incidents in northern Nigeria. Armed groups, often referred to as bandits, frequently carry out mass abductions for ransom. Churches, schools, and rural communities have become common targets. The government has deployed military forces to affected regions, but attacks continue.
Nigeria is under scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump, who says that Christians are being persecuted. The Nigerian government denies this allegation. Nevertheless, religious violence remains a sensitive issue in the country of over 200 million people, split roughly evenly between Muslims and Christians.
The Kaduna church attack has drawn particular attention because of the conflicting official accounts. If the army falsely claimed a rescue, questions will arise about military transparency. If the Christian group is mistaken, concerns about misinformation could undermine trust in civilian institutions. Either way, the victims remain at the center of this tragedy.
Local residents continue to wait for news of their loved ones. The Kurtumi Unity Development Association urged security forces to provide accurate information. Families of the abducted fear for the safety of those still held captive. The Kaduna church attack has left deep scars in the community, regardless of how many people the army actually rescued.
