Nigerian army rescues 31 hostages after deadly church attack

The Nigerian army has rescued 31 civilians taken hostage during a brutal Easter Sunday assault on a church in Ariko, Kaduna state. Gunmen struck during the morning celebrations, leaving five dead, according to security forces. Local accounts suggested the death toll may be higher, with earlier reports citing seven fatalities. Soldiers engaged the attackers in a fierce firefight, forcing their retreat and securing the release of the hostages. This attack unfolds against a backdrop of relentless v