At least five persons have been confirmed dead and three others injured following an attack by armed bandits on members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) during a church meeting in Kampani Village, Maro, located in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to sources in the Kaduna State Police Command who spoke to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the attack occurred on Friday, July 11, at about 3:30 p.m., when armed men stormed the church premises during a gathering of worshippers.

A Good Samaritan reportedly alerted security agencies at around 9:20 p.m., prompting a swift deployment of a combined team of police officers and operatives from sister security agencies.

Upon arrival, the security team confirmed that five worshippers had been shot and fatally wounded. The deceased were identified as Victor Haruna, Dogara Jatau, Luka Yari, Jesse Dalami, and Bawu John. All five were rushed to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead by medical personnel.

Three other victims—Samuel Aliyu, Philip Dominic, and Jacob Hussaini—sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby healthcare facility.

Security agencies have launched a manhunt for the attackers, with efforts ongoing to track and apprehend those responsible for the deadly assault. (The Guardian, but headline rejigged)