The early morning assault on Sunday threw residents of the community into panic as worshippers were reportedly attacked during church activities.
The councillor representing Awon Ward, where the Ariko District is located, Mark Bawa, confirmed the incident to Punch Online in a telephone interview on Sunday.
According to him, the attackers stormed First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, both situated within the community.
“I am currently on my way to the community to ascertain the exact number of casualties. Some sources said seven people were killed, while others claimed eight. I will provide an update once details are confirmed,” Bawa said.
Bawa explained that the assailants reportedly arrived in large numbers and surrounded the community before launching the attack.
“The attackers came in large numbers. They surrounded the area and began shooting sporadically at worshippers. Several people were killed, and many others were taken away into the bush,” he said.
Residents said the attackers operated for an extended period without resistance, heightening fears over the security situation in rural communities across the state.
The councillor also attributed the lack of immediate response to the attack to poor telecommunications coverage in the area.
He said the communication challenge may have enabled the attackers to carry out the assault without timely intervention from security operatives.
The latest incident occurred barely two months after another attack in Kurmin Wali community, also in Kachia Local Government Area, where several worshippers were abducted during a church gathering in February 2026.
The earlier incident sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger security deployment across Southern Kaduna communities.