Nigeria's army rescues 31 hostages after church attack
The army reported the attack occurred during Easter celebrations at a church in northwestern Kaduna state.
Summary
On April 5, 2026, the Nigerian army reported the rescue of 31 hostages taken during an attack at a church in northwestern Kaduna state.
The incident occurred amid Easter celebrations, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in this region.
Northwestern Nigeria has been grappling with violence for years, raising concerns about infrastructure resilience and community safety.
Key Facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary source | DW News |
| Source count | 3 |
| First published | 2026-04-05T22:22:00.000Z |
Updates
Update at 01:07 UTC on 2026-04-06
France 24 reported Nigeria’s military rescued 31 worshippers abducted during Easter services, but the attack left at least five dead.
Sources: France 24
Update at 09:08 UTC on 2026-04-06
BBC World reported Five civilians were killed by the gunmen and their bodies were recovered at the scene, the army said.
Sources: BBC World
Sources
- DW News: https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria-s-army-rescues-31-hostages-after-church-attack/a-76675665?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-xml-mrss
- France 24: https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20260406-nigeria-troops-rescue-easter-worshippers-after-deadly-church-attack-christians
- BBC World: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgld111d9jpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss