About 16 persons were killed in separate violent incidents in Benue and Kaduna states in northern Nigeria during the Easter celebrations, leaving communities in mourning and prompting urgent calls for stronger security measures.
According to local media reports, in Benue State, nine residents of Agena community in Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area, were killed when suspected armed herdsmen stormed the area early on Sunday.
The reports said that the attackers, numbering over 50, set homes, the local market, and food barns ablaze, while many persons remain missing, and one victim is said to be receiving medical attention.
“As people tried to flee, the gunmen opened fire, killing innocent residents. Nine bodies have been recovered, but many are still missing,” one resident told journalists.
The Security Adviser to the Gwer East Local Government Chairman, Mr. Austin Awua, confirmed the attack and said that security forces had been deployed to prevent further attacks.
The Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, condemned the assault as “barbaric and unacceptable,” describing it as a direct threat to peace in the state.
“This attack on Mbalom during Easter highlights the recurring security challenges we face. The perpetrators will be apprehended and prosecuted, and the government remains committed to protecting lives,” the governor said in a statement.
Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, the terrorists targeted two Christian worship centres in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area, of Kaduna State, killing at least seven people and abducting several others during Easter services at First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church.
The residents reported that poor telecommunications coverage delayed immediate response. But troops of the Nigerian Army swiftly intervened, rescuing 31 abducted worshippers, including one injured victim receiving medical attention.
The reports added that five bodies of victims killed before the military’s arrival was recovered, while bloodstains along escape routes suggested further casualties among the fleeing attackers.
Some military sources said that the troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, forcing them to abandon the hostages.
The dual attacks during the Easter celebrations underscore the persistent security challenges in parts of Benue and Kaduna states, despite efforts by the authorities to protect lives and property in the two states.
GIK/APA