Residents Reject Nigerian Army's Claim of Church Hostage Rescue

Tensions are mounting in Kaduna state after residents of the Ariko community disputed the Nigerian army's claim of rescuing 31 hostages from a mass abduction during a church attack on Easter Sunday. While the military asserted it had engaged in a 'fierce firefight' with the assailants, forcing them to flee and abandoning both hostages and the deceased, local leaders insist none of the captives have been freed. "As far as we are concerned, all the abducted victims are still with the bandits," sai