Grief has engulfed families in the Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after eight worshippers abducted during an Easter Sunday church service reportedly died in captivity.
The President of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association (KUDA), Dr Joseph Ariko, disclosed this in an interview with LEADERSHIP on Sunday, saying the information was obtained from escapees, including one of his cousins who fled the kidnappers’ den.
LEADERSHIP had reported that 37 worshippers were abducted from three churches during Easter Sunday services in Ariko community on 5 April 2026.
According to Ariko, one of the escapees is currently receiving treatment at a hospital after sustaining injuries during the ordeal.
He further disclosed that the eight victims who died comprised four children, two women and two men.Ariko lamented that the victims had spent 113 days in captivity, describing the prolonged ordeal as unbearable for their families and the entire Ariko community.
He further said that the kidnappers were still demanding N1 billion for the release of the remaining captives and had threatened that more victims would die if the ransom were not paid.
“They are still insisting on N1 billion. They said if the money is not paid, the remaining captives will continue to die one after another,” he said.
The KUDA president appealed to the Federal and Kaduna State governments to urgently intervene to secure the release of those still in captivity, saying the prolonged ordeal had left families devastated and the entire community in anguish.
He said the association had held several meetings with the Department of State Services (DSS), the chairman of Kachia Local Government Area and other relevant authorities in pursuit of the victims’ release. Still, the victims’ efforts had yet to yield results.
According to him, one of the escapees recently met with the Vice President to seek intervention over the plight of the remaining captives. Still, the engagement had not produced the desired outcome.
“We have met with the DSS,” the local government chairman and other stakeholders, yet our people remain in captivity. We are appealing to the government to intensify efforts to rescue them before more lives are lost,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the latest development.
