The village chief of Arikon community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Chief Joshua Doka, has refuted claims by the Nigerian Army that its troops rescued worshippers abducted from an ECWA church on Sunday by bandits.
Reacting to media reports, Chief Doka stated that none of the abducted worshippers were rescued by the Army. He explained that out of the total 35 worshippers taken from the church during service, none have returned home or been rescued.
He noted that earlier reports had indicated that 29 worshippers were abducted. However, after directing his palace secretary to make further inquiries, he confirmed that a total of 35 worshippers were taken by the bandits.
‘None Rescued’
Chief Doka expressed surprise at media reports claiming the Nigerian Army had rescued the victims, describing such reports as misleading. He added that he wondered how families of the worshippers — both those killed and those abducted — would feel upon reading such false reports.
“Let me state categorically that as the village chief of Arikon, none of the abducted worshippers were rescued as claimed by the Nigerian Army. All 35 abducted victims remain in captivity,” he said.
The village chief called on security operatives to intensify their efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the worshippers and prayed for divine intervention to end the spate of banditry in the area.
Church Confirms No Rescue
Supporting the chief’s statement, Reverend Isah Idris of the ECWA DCC in Katari also described the Army’s report as misleading, confirming that none of the worshippers had been rescued.
Reverend Idris, who accompanied the Kaduna State Police Commissioner and the Nigerian Army Sector 4 Commander to Arikon following the attack, stated:
“In fact, I joined the police commissioner and the Nigerian Army Sector 4 Commander, along with other security operatives, to Arikon village, where bandits abducted 35 worshippers and killed five others. This morning, I returned to the community to preside over the funeral service of four ECWA church members who were killed, while the fifth deceased was Roman Catholic and has already been buried.”
He prayed for the repose of the deceased and called on God to intervene to ensure the safe return of the 35 abducted worshippers.
