Tragedy in Nigeria: Eight Christians Killed While Held Captive by Militants

In the Nigerian state of Kaduna, the deaths of eight of the 37 Christians abducted by militants during an Easter service on April 6, 2026, have been confirmed. The captives endured brutal ordeals in the terrorists’ camp for several months.

A former hostage who managed to escape shared shocking details of their captivity. According to him, the believers were held outdoors in the Rijana area, deprived of basic food and water. The captives were systematically beaten, and the lack of medical care led to widespread outbreaks of dysentery and fever. A particularly tragic incident involved a woman who escaped captivity with her three daughters: during the escape, her four-year-old daughter died of exhaustion and illness, and her mother had to carry her body in her arms to safety.

Former Nigerian Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung confirmed that at least eight people from the village of Ariko and neighboring communities lost their lives during the months they spent in the militants’ camp. The security situation for religious minorities in the region remains extremely tense: earlier reports indicated that believers in Plateau State were killed as a result of a series of armed attacks that took place in August of this year.