The army said gunmen attacked a church service on Sunday in the village of Ariko, about 100 km north of the capital, Abuja, seizing dozens of people.
Troops launched a rapid response operation and engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat and leave behind 31 hostages. At least five people were killed in the attack, according to the military.
Local media reported that the gunmen may have targeted both a Catholic and a Protestant church at the same time, and suggested the death toll might be higher than the official figure.
Kaduna is one of several states in northwestern and central Nigeria that frequently experience attacks by armed groups. Nigerian officials say the groups are largely motivated by economic gain, but have recently shown signs of increased coordination with jihadist fighters in the northeast, increasing security concerns.
