Midnight horror in Kaduna: 30 Killed, homes razed in terror attack

A midnight attack by suspected terrorists on Naridon Village in Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has left at least 30 people dead, including eight children, in one of the deadliest assaults on Southern Kaduna in recent months.

The gunmen reportedly invaded the community around 11 p.m. on Sunday, firing indiscriminately at residents before setting homes and shops ablaze. Survivors said the attackers operated for hours, leaving behind widespread destruction, grieving families and scores of displaced residents.

The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Mr. Dogon Rana, who confirmed the incident on Monday, described the attack as a devastating tragedy that has plunged the entire community into mourning.

According to him, 30 bodies have so far been recovered, while four critically injured victims are receiving treatment. He warned that the death toll could increase as some of the injured remain in critical condition.

Rana recounted heartbreaking scenes from the attack, including the loss of five children by a single family in one night. He said only one child from the family survived and is currently fighting for life in hospital.

The village official also revealed that his residence was destroyed during the attack, alongside several other homes and business premises. He said many residents lost all their belongings as fire swept through the community, leaving numerous families without shelter.

He blamed the scale of the tragedy partly on the community’s poor road network, saying the absence of a motorable access road delayed emergency assistance and limited residents’ chances of escaping the attackers.

“We have continued to appeal for a good road and improved security. Had emergency responders reached us earlier, many lives could have been saved,” he said, urging the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government and security agencies to strengthen security in the area.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, alleged that 22 members of the Rana family were among those killed. The resident also claimed the attack lasted for nearly three hours despite the presence of military formations in nearby Kamaru and Ungwan Magaji, located about two kilometres from the village.

The resident further expressed concern over what he described as the inadequate security response, alleging that only one soldier and four Mobile Police officers had been deployed to the community after the attack.

The latest killings have heightened anxiety across Kauru Local Government Area, where several communities have repeatedly come under attack by armed groups, resulting in deaths, destruction of property and the displacement of hundreds of residents.