The Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI) is deeply pained and outraged by the prolonged captivity of 37 innocent souls abducted from Ariko village, Kachia Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. Today marks 104 agonizing days since armed gunmen raided churches, killed at least seven worshippers, and abducted women and children, leaving families shattered and communities traumatized.
Amnesty International has rightly raised alarm that these victims—mostly women and children—are at high risk of torture, starvation, amputation, rape, or being forced to witness atrocities. This is not speculation; this is the brutal reality of captivity in Nigeria’s conflict zones. Every passing day deepens their trauma and diminishes their hope. As an organization committed to “Giving Relevance to Life,” MHI cannot remain silent while fellow Nigerians are abandoned to such dehumanizing conditions.
Compounding this tragedy is the rainy season. With heavy rains sweeping across the country, the conditions in captivity become even more unbearable and life-threatening. Victims are exposed to harsh weather, limited shelter, inadequate food, and heightened risk of disease. The government cannot afford to wait. Delays in rescue operations during the rainy season could lead to preventable deaths, disease outbreaks, and further deterioration of the victims’ physical and mental health. Every day of inaction is a gamble with precious lives.
MHI calls on the Kaduna State Government, the Federal Government, and all security agencies to:
1. Prioritize the immediate and safe rescue of all 37 abducted victims without further delay
2. Provide transparent updates to the families—they have been abandoned in silence for 104 days and deserve answers
3. Deploy all necessary resources, including intelligence assets and special forces, to secure the victims’ freedom
4. Address the root causes of insecurity in Southern Kaduna, including banditry, arms proliferation, and communal tensions
5. Ensure perpetrators are brought to justice to deter future atrocities and restore faith in the justice system
The consistent failure of Nigerian authorities to ensure the security and safety of citizens constitutes a serious breach of human rights obligations under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This cannot continue.
MHI stands in solidarity with the families of the Ariko victims. No family should wait 104 days for answers. No child should spend 104 days in captivity. No woman should be subjected to such horror while the government remains silent.
We call on all Nigerians—civil society, religious leaders, traditional institutions, and the media—to amplify the voices of the voiceless and demand action. Silence is complicity.
Every life matters. Every child deserves to come home. Every family deserves closure.
Signed
Samuel Solomon
Executive Director
Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI)
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI)
📞 +234 806 127 3237
📧 mercyhelplineinitiative@gmail.com
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