At least 30 residents, including eight children, have been killed after suspected terrorists launched a midnight attack on Naridon Village in Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The deadly assault has left families in mourning and renewed fears over insecurity in Southern Kaduna.
The attack, which happened late Sunday night, has been described as one of the worst incidents recorded in the area in recent months. Moreover, several houses and shops were set on fire, while many survivors were forced to flee for safety.
According to community leaders, the attackers invaded the village at about 11 p.m. while many residents were asleep. Others were still awake when heavy gunfire suddenly erupted across the community. Panic quickly spread as families ran for cover while the gunmen moved from one area to another.
The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Dogon Rana, confirmed the incident and expressed deep sorrow over the scale of the killings.
“We have confirmed the killing of 30 people, but we are afraid the death toll may rise because some of the injured are in critical condition.”
He explained that several injured victims are still receiving treatment. Therefore, the number of deaths could increase if their conditions worsen.
Rana described the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy that has shattered many families. He revealed that one resident lost five children during the attack.
“There is someone in this village who lost five children in one night. The only surviving child is critically injured and fighting for his life. This is a tragedy that has thrown the entire community into mourning.”
Furthermore, Rana disclosed that his own house was destroyed during the attack. Several business premises were also burned, leaving many families homeless.
“My personal house was burnt down by the attackers. Several shops were also destroyed. Many families have been left homeless.”
According to him, the poor condition of the access road contributed to the high number of casualties. He said emergency responders could not reach the village quickly because the road was not motorable.
“If our road had been motorable, the casualty figure would not have been this high because help would have reached us on time.”
He appealed to the Federal Government and Kaduna State Government to deploy more security personnel. In addition, he urged authorities to construct a proper access road to the community.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, claimed that 22 members of the Rana family were among those killed during the assault. The resident also alleged that the attackers operated for nearly three hours without interruption.
According to the resident, nearby security formations were unable to stop the attack despite their proximity to the village. However, this claim has not been officially confirmed by security authorities.
The survivor further alleged that only one soldier and four Mobile Police officers arrived after the attack had ended. Consequently, many villagers questioned the speed of the emergency response.
Security agencies have yet to release a detailed statement on the incident. Meanwhile, residents continue to mourn loved ones while searching through the remains of destroyed homes.
