Conflicting accounts have emerged over a deadly attack on a church in northern Nigeria, with Christian leaders and local residents disputing the military’s claim that dozens of abducted worshippers were rescued.
The Nigerian Army said its troops freed 31 civilians after gunmen stormed a church service in Ariko village, located in Kaduna State’s Kachia district. According to the military, five people were killed during the assault, while the rest were successfully recovered in a rescue operation.
However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rejected that account, insisting that those taken by the attackers remain in captivity. Speaking to reporters, northern CAN chairman Reverend John Joseph Hayab said the military’s statement was inaccurate.
“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 said. He warned that conflicting information could worsen the security situation: “Now we have misinformation. When we are busy denying, we are just giving the bandits the opportunity to strike and go freely.”
Local voices have also contradicted the army’s version of events. The Kurtumi Unity Development Association, a community group in Ariko, described the rescue claim as “entirely false, misleading and does not reflect the current situation.”
A former village head, Iliya Audu, said the death toll was higher than reported, putting it at seven instead of five. He added that funerals for the victims were held on Monday. “We are just returning from the burial of those killed. No single soul was rescued,” Audu said.
Nigeria’s military authorities, including Defence Headquarters, did not respond to repeated requests for clarification following the conflicting reports.
The dispute highlights ongoing concerns over security operations and communication in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions. CAN has previously challenged official accounts of kidnappings, including a case last November involving students abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State.
The incident comes amid heightened international attention on Nigeria’s security record. U.S. President Donald Trump has accused the country of failing to protect Christian communities, allegations the Nigerian government has consistently denied.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah