Nigerian Military Claims Successful Rescue Amid Dispute
The Nigerian military announced on Sunday that they had stormed a church in the village of Aliko, claiming to have freed 31 hostages from armed groups. However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) refuted this assertion on Monday, stating that the rescue operation was incomplete and that some church members remained in captivity.
Located about 100 miles north of Abuja, the church in Aliko was attacked by gunmen during Easter celebrations on Sunday morning. Local officials described the attackers as “bandits” and reported the deaths of five to seven civilians during the incident.
The Nigerian military has faced significant criticism for its perceived slow response to attacks on Christians. In a past statement, former President Donald Trump warned that if the violence against Christians continues, the U.S. might reconsider its foreign aid to Nigeria and take decisive action against the perpetrators.
Regarding the Alico attack, the military touted its quick and effective response, claiming they engaged in a “heavy firefight” with the kidnappers, which forced them to flee. They suggested that significant injuries were inflicted on the attackers, evident by “bloodstains along their escape routes.”
In a statement, the military insisted that their swift action had successfully thwarted the terrorist attack and rescued 31 civilians. Yet, this claim was strongly challenged by local residents and CAN pastor John Hayab, who noted that the attackers faced minimal resistance throughout much of Sunday afternoon, according to local media reports.
Pastor Hayab expressed skepticism about the military’s narrative. While acknowledging the military’s efforts to return the victims, he stated, “It is not fair for the military to claim that the victims were rescued.” He spoke to Reuters in a phone interview on Monday.
There were concerns about misinformation being spread, as he mentioned, “When we are busy denying, we are only giving the bandits a free opportunity to attack and act.” Additionally, a local resident informed Reuters that funerals for the seven deceased individuals were held at a church on Monday, stating, “No one was saved.” Nigeria’s military has not issued a response to Reuters regarding this incident.
