No fewer than 30 people, including eight children, have been killed following a midnight attack by suspected armed assailants on Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The attackers reportedly stormed the community under the cover of darkness, opening fire indiscriminately on residents before setting several houses and shops ablaze. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen also killed a number of villagers before fleeing the area.
Residents described the attack as one of the deadliest in the area in recent months, saying families were forced to flee into nearby bushes as the assailants moved through the village.
Community members alleged that security personnel arrived several hours after the attackers had escaped, leaving residents to evacuate the injured and recover the bodies of those killed.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over the persistent insecurity affecting rural communities in Kaduna and other parts of northern Nigeria, where armed bandits have continued to target farming settlements, resulting in loss of lives, displacement and destruction of property.
Following the incident, community leaders called on the federal and Kaduna State governments to strengthen security in vulnerable rural areas by establishing permanent security bases, improving intelligence gathering and ensuring faster response to distress calls. They also appealed for humanitarian assistance for families affected by the attack, including medical care, emergency relief materials and temporary shelter for displaced residents.
The Kaduna State Police Command said investigations into the attack have commenced, adding that tactical teams have been deployed to the area to restore normalcy and track down those responsible for the killings.
As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack. Authorities are expected to continue security operations in the area as efforts intensify to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further violence.