At least 30 residents, among them eight children, have lost their lives after suspected terrorists invaded Naridon Village in Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, marking another deadly assault on communities in Southern Kaduna.
The attackers were said to have descended on the village at about 11 p.m. on Sunday, opening fire on residents, torching homes, and leaving many dead, while several others suffered injuries.
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The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Mr. Dogon Rana, confirmed the incident.
Rana described the attack as the worst the community has ever witnessed, explaining that the gunmen struck while some villagers were still outdoors carrying out evening activities, while others had already gone to bed.
He stated that 30 fatalities had been confirmed, including eight children, while four injured victims remain in critical condition and are receiving medical care.
“We have verified the deaths of 30 people, but the number could increase because some of those injured are battling for survival,” he said.
He said the assault had left the community devastated, with numerous families mourning loved ones and properties worth millions of naira reduced to ashes.
“There is a resident who lost five children in a single night. Only one child survived, but that child is in critical condition. The entire village has been thrown into grief,” Rana added.
He also revealed that his residence was destroyed during the attack.
“My house was set ablaze by the attackers. Several shops were also burnt, including the home of the late Mr. Garba. Many residents have been rendered homeless,” he said.
According to Rana, Naridon borders parts of Plateau State, and the absence of a motorable road significantly worsened the tragedy by delaying emergency response efforts and making escape difficult for residents.
“Our community lacks an accessible road. If we had a good road, emergency assistance would have arrived much earlier, and many lives could have been saved,” he explained.
He appealed to the Federal Government, the Kaduna State Government, and security agencies to urgently strengthen security in the area and provide a functional access road.
“We urge the government not to neglect our community. We need more security personnel and better road infrastructure. These attacks have become increasingly frequent, and our people now live in constant fear,” he said.
The latest violence has heightened concerns among residents of Kauru Local Government Area, where several communities have repeatedly come under attack from armed groups in recent years, leading to deaths, widespread destruction, and the displacement of many families.
Another resident, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, alleged that 22 members of the Rana family were among those killed. The resident also claimed that businesses across the community were destroyed during the assault.
The source further alleged that the attack continued for nearly three hours without any security intervention, despite the presence of military formations in Kamaru and Ungwan Magaji, both located roughly two kilometres from the village.
“As of now, only one soldier and four Mobile Police officers have been deployed to the community,” the resident said.
Attempts to obtain a response from the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful, as repeated calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, were unanswered.
A text message sent to his phone had also not received a reply by the time this report was filed.
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