19/06/2026
🚨Breaking News:💔 Anguish as Kaduna Worshippers Spend Over 75 Days in Capt!vity, Kdnap+pers Demand ₦1 Billion and 35 Motorcycles
Families and residents of Ariko Community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State are living in f£ar and uncertainty as 37 worshippers abdvcted during coordinated att@cks on churches have now spent more than 75 days in capt!vity.
Community leaders disclosed that the kdnap+pers are demanding a staggering ran$om of ₦1 bill!on alongside 35 motorcycles as cond!tions for the vict!ms’ rel£ase. The motorcycles reportedly include 20 “B0ko Haram” b!kes and 15 Bajaj motorcycles, placing an impossible financial bvrden on the aff£cted community.
According to local sources, negot!ations with the abdvctors are still ongo!ng, but residents say they l@ck the resources needed to meet the kdnap+pers’ demands.
The prolonged capt!vity has reportedly taken a d£vastating t0ll on the vict!ms and their families. Community members revealed that some of the abdvctees have d!£d while in capt!vity, while a pr3gnant woman allegedly gave birth in the f0rest under extr3mely har$h cond!tions.
The community has appealed to the Federal Government, the Kaduna State Government, security agencies, and human!tarian organizations to urgently int3rvene and intensify rescve eff0rts to secure the safe rel3ase of those still being h3ld.
Leaders of the community also dism!ssed earlier reports claiming that 31 of the abdvcted worshippers had been rescved, insisting that the information is inaccvrate and that many of the vict!ms remain in the hands of their captors.
The inc*dent has once again highlighted the persistent insecvrity aff£cting parts of Kaduna State, with residents calling for stronger security measures to prot3ct vulnerable communities and places of ₩orship from recvrring att@cks.