71 Days In Captivity: Protests Erupt Demanding Release Of 37 Abducted Ariko Community Worshippers

KADUNA, NIGERIA — Family members, residents, and civil society groups have launched a live protest demanding the immediate and unconditional rescue of 37 worshippers abducted from the Ariko community in Katari, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The protesters, gathering in large numbers, highlighted that the victims—mostly women, children, and vulnerable individuals including two elderly blind men—have now spent exactly 71 days in a bandit enclave with no signs of release.

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The Easter Sunday Assault

The crisis began on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, when heavily armed bandits simultaneously invaded three churches—the First ECWA Church, St. Augustine Catholic Church, and a Baptist Church—during morning worship services. The assailants opened fire on the congregations, killing at least five worshippers instantly and injuring several others before forcing 37 residents into the forest. Initial claims by security agencies stating that the victims had been successfully rescued were swiftly debunked by community leaders and the Kuturmi Development Association (KUDA). Local stakeholders clarified that those released were captives from a separate village who had been freed following private ransom payments.

Impasse Over N1 Billion Ransom Demand

The protest is fueled by deep frustration over an operational stalemate, as the kidnappers have maintained an uncompromising demand for a 1 billion Naira ransom and 35 motorcycles. The agrarian community has repeatedly cried out that raising such an exorbitant sum is impossible, leaving their loved ones entirely dependent on direct state or federal intervention. Relatives at the demonstration expressed severe anxiety over the deteriorating health conditions of the hostages, who have been exposed to harsh forest elements for more than two months.

Calls for Government and Military Action

Carrying placards and blocking transit pathways, the protesters called out the Kaduna State Government and federal security forces for what they describe as institutional neglect and a lack of urgency. The Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum (SKJF) and other regional coalitions have backed the community’s demands, urging the military high command to deploy specialized tracking units to bypass the geographical hurdles of the Kachia terrain and bring the 37 citizens home alive.