No fewer than 30 people, including eight children, were killed after terrorists attacked Naridon Village in Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Sunday night.
The attack, which happened around 11 p.m., also left several residents injured while houses and businesses were destroyed. The incident has drawn strong reactions from the Kaduna State Government, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, Usman Bawa.
Naridon, a border community between Kaduna State and Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, was reportedly invaded by heavily armed attackers who opened fire on residents and set homes ablaze.
The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Dogon Rana, confirmed the incident, saying 30 people had so far been confirmed dead, while four others sustained serious injuries and were receiving treatment.
He warned that the death toll could rise because some of the injured were in critical condition.
According to him, the attack left many families devastated, with lives and property worth millions of naira lost.
Rana revealed that one resident lost five children during the attack, while the only surviving child was battling for survival in hospital.
He also disclosed that his own house was among those burnt, alongside several shops and other buildings in the community.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, claimed that 22 members of the Rana family were killed in the attack.
The resident further alleged that the assault lasted for about three hours without any intervention from security personnel stationed in nearby Kamaru and Ungwan Magaji, both less than two kilometres away.
He added that only one military officer and four mobile police officers were currently deployed to the community.
Rana blamed the high number of casualties on the poor state of the road leading to the village, saying the lack of a motorable access road delayed emergency response and made it difficult for residents to escape.
He appealed to both the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to improve security in the area and construct a proper access road.
Reacting to the attack, Governor Uba Sani described the killings as tragic and directed security agencies to intensify efforts to arrest those responsible.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, the governor also instructed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to provide immediate relief materials and humanitarian support to affected families.
The state government added that it would collaborate with the Plateau State Government, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to strengthen security along the Kaduna–Plateau border.
PDP governorship candidate, Usman Bawa, condemned the attack, describing it as a horrifying act of violence. He called for the immediate deployment of more security personnel to Kauru and other vulnerable communities, as well as a thorough investigation and justice for the victims.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the killings, describing them as another indication of the government's failure to protect Nigerians.
Read Also:
Kidnapped Oyo Principal’s Husband: I Blocked the Abductors’ Calls to Save My Life
He said the country needed a complete overhaul of its security system, stressing that repeated condemnations after attacks were no longer enough.
Atiku urged security agencies to adopt intelligence-driven operations, ensure those responsible were prosecuted swiftly and strengthen efforts to prevent future attacks, especially as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
He added that Nigerians needed real security rather than praise from foreign countries over the government's counter-terrorism efforts.
The latest attack has once again highlighted growing insecurity in Southern Kaduna and communities along the Kaduna–Plateau border, where repeated attacks, kidnappings and destruction of property have continued despite ongoing military operations.
