Midnight Terror in Kaduna: 30 Killed, Homes Razed in Naridon Village Attack

At least 30 people, including eight children, have been killed after suspected terrorists launched a deadly overnight attack on Naridon Village in Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, in one of the latest incidents of violence to hit Southern Kaduna.

The assailants reportedly stormed the community at about 11 p.m. on Sunday, firing indiscriminately at residents before setting houses and shops ablaze. Several other people sustained injuries during the attack, while property worth millions of naira was destroyed.

Village Official Describes Devastating Losses

The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Mr. Dogon Rana, confirmed the attack and said the community was still counting its losses.

According to him, 30 deaths have so far been confirmed, while four other residents are receiving treatment for critical injuries.

“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,” Rana said.

He described the attack as unprecedented, explaining that the gunmen struck while some residents were still outdoors carrying out evening activities and others had already gone to bed.

Rana recounted the ordeal of a family that lost five children during the assault.

“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,” he said.

He also disclosed that his own house was destroyed in the attack.

“My personal house was burnt down by the attackers. Several shops were also destroyed, including the house belonging to the late Mr. Garba. Many families have been left homeless,” he added.

Residents Blame Poor Road Access

Community leaders attributed the high casualty figure to the absence of a motorable road leading to Naridon, saying the poor infrastructure delayed emergency assistance and limited residents’ ability to flee.

Rana explained that the village, which shares a boundary with parts of Plateau State, remains largely inaccessible during emergencies.

“There is no accessible road to our community. If our road had been motorable, the casualty figure would not have been this high because help would have reached us on time and many people could have escaped,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government, the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to deploy more personnel to the area and prioritise the construction of an access road.

“We are pleading with the government not to abandon us. We need security personnel to protect our people, and we need a good road. These attacks have become too frequent, and our people can no longer sleep with their eyes closed,” Rana said.

Residents Allege Delayed Security Response

Another resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, claimed that 22 members of the Rana family were among those killed in the attack.

The resident also alleged that the gunmen operated for about three hours without resistance despite the presence of military formations in Kamaru and Ungwan Magaji, communities located about two kilometres from Naridon.

“As we speak, only one military officer and four Mobile Police officers have been deployed to the community,” the resident said.

Separately, youth leader Ishaya Dawa said some victims were slaughtered during the attack, adding that women, children and elderly residents were among those killed before the attackers fled after setting homes on fire.

Police Yet to Issue Detailed Statement

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

Calls placed to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, were not answered, while a text message sent to his telephone line had not received a response.

Separately, the police spokesperson said the command would provide details on the incident.

The latest attack has heightened fears among residents of Kauru Local Government Area, where communities have repeatedly come under attack in recent years, resulting in deaths, destruction of property and the displacement of many families.