Nigeria is reeling from a bloody Easter Sunday attack that left at least 35 people dead when armed gunmen opened fire on worshippers leaving a church service in Kaduna State’s Zaria area, in one of the deadliest single attacks on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history.
The assault, which occurred in the morning hours of April 5, has been claimed by a faction of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), according to a statement distributed through the group’s standard communication channels. The attack targeted the Winners’ Chapel congregation in the Shika area, near the historic city of Zaria.
What Happened
Survivors described a scene of chaos as the attack unfolded during the post-service rush. Witnesses say the gunmen arrived in multiple vehicles, blocked the main road, and began shooting indiscriminately at worshippers leaving the building. Nigerian security forces responded with a delay that critics say was far too long, allowing the attackers to flee before a full perimeter was established.
The confirmed death toll stands at 35, with at least 18 others wounded. Among the dead are at least two children and several elderly congregants. The true figure may rise as some of the wounded remain in critical condition.
Security Failures and a Familiar Pattern
The attack is the second major incident of violence targeting religious gatherings in Nigeria in 2026. In January, suspected ISWAP fighters killed 23 people in an attack on a mosque in Borno State. Both incidents share common characteristics: targets in areas where state presence is thin, attackers using motorbikes and improvised vehicles for mobility, and a claimed responsibility that fits the profile of ISWAP’s deliberate campaign against Christian communities in the northeast.
Critics have pointed to what they describe as a consistent failure of Nigerian security forces to anticipate and respond effectively to known threats. The area around Zaria has been on elevated security alert following intelligence alerts about potential attacks during the Easter period — an alert that did not, apparently, result in a visible security presence around the church.
Government Response
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the attack and ordered an immediate investigation. In a statement, he described the killings as “a direct assault on the freedom of worship and the unity of our nation.” The Defence Ministry said special forces had been deployed to the area and that the hunt for the perpetrators was ongoing.
The attack has drawn condemnation from religious leaders across Nigeria’s Christian community, with the Christian Association of Nigeria calling for a fundamental overhaul of the country’s security architecture. Religious violence, they noted, has become an annual feature of the Nigerian calendar, with insufficient accountability for perpetrators or accountability for security failures.
Sources: Reuters, BBC Africa, African News, Al Jazeera, France24