At least 30 people, including eight children, have been killed after terrorists attacked Naridon Village in Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The attackers stormed the border community around 11 p.m. on Sunday, opening fire on residents and setting homes and businesses ablaze. Several others sustained injuries during the assault.
Naridon, located along the Kaduna–Plateau border near Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, was left devastated after the attack.
The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Dogon Rana, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying 30 deaths had been verified while four critically injured victims were receiving treatment.
“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 said.
Rana described the attack as one of the darkest moments in the community’s history, revealing that several families were wiped out and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
“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 added.
He said his own house was among those burnt, alongside several shops and other buildings.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, claimed that 22 members of the Rana family were killed in the attack. The resident also alleged that the assailants operated for about three hours without intervention from security personnel stationed less than two kilometres away in Kamaru and Ungwan Magaji.
“As we speak, only one military officer and four mobile police officers are deployed to the community,” the resident said.
Rana blamed the high casualty figure on the absence of a motorable road linking the community, saying poor access delayed emergency response and prevented many residents from escaping.
“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 both the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to deploy additional security personnel and urgently construct an access road to the village.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani condemned the attack, describing it as tragic, and directed security agencies to intensify efforts to track down and prosecute those responsible.
The governor also instructed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to provide immediate relief materials and humanitarian support to affected families.
The state government said it would strengthen collaboration with the Plateau State Government, security agencies, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to improve security along the Kaduna–Plateau border.
The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Usman Bawa, described the killings as “a horrifying act of barbarity” and called for the immediate deployment of more security personnel to Kauru and other vulnerable communities.
He also demanded a thorough investigation, the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack, and urgent humanitarian assistance for survivors, injured victims and displaced families.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the killings, describing them as another sign of the Federal Government’s failure to adequately protect citizens.
“The reported killing of scores of innocent Nigerians in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” he said.
Atiku urged the Federal Government to overhaul the country’s security architecture, stressing that routine condemnations after attacks were no longer enough.
He called for intelligence-led security operations, swift prosecution of perpetrators and proactive measures to prevent further attacks on vulnerable communities.
The former vice-president also urged security agencies to remain vigilant as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
“The people of Southern Kaduna and, indeed, all Nigerians, do not need letters of praise from foreign capitals. They need security,” he said.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over persistent insecurity in Southern Kaduna and communities along the Kaduna–Plateau border, where residents continue to face repeated attacks, kidnappings, displacement and destruction of property despite ongoing security operations.
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