by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
About 30 persons, including eight children, have been killed, following a fresh attack by suspected armed terrorists on Naridon community, in Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area of Southern part of Kaduna State.
The latest raid, which occurred late Sunday night, has once again underscored the worsening security situation in parts of Southern Kaduna, where communities have continued to face recurring incidents of armed terrorists’ attacks.
Residents said the attackers invaded the village at about 11 pm, firing sporadically at villagers, setting several houses and shops ablaze. The attack reportedly left many residents dead, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Mr. Dogon Rana, who reportedly confirmed the incident in a telephone interview on Monday, described the attack as “one of the deadliest the community has witnessed in recent times.”
According to him, “30 people have so far been confirmed dead, although, there are fears that the death toll could rise because some of the injured victims remain in critical condition.”
He said four injured residents are currently receiving medical treatment, while the community continues to search for those, who may still be missing, after the attack.
Mr. Rana explained that the gunmen struck, while many villagers were either winding-down their daily activities or already asleep, leaving residents with little opportunity to escape.
He lamented that the attack has plunged the community into grief, with many families losing multiple relatives in a single night.
Narrating the scale of the tragedy, Rana disclosed that one family lost five children during the attack, leaving only one surviving child who is currently battling for life.
He also revealed that his personal residence was destroyed during the invasion, while several other buildings, including residential houses and business premises, were razed down by the attackers, leaving many families homeless and wiping out property worth millions of naira.
Among the affected properties, he said, was residence of the late Mr. Garba, alongside several shops that served as sources of livelihood for members of the community.
Residents have since begun counting their losses as they struggle to recover from the destruction caused by the attackers.
“Poor road blamed for delayed response,” as Rana attributed the high casualty figure partly to the poor state of infrastructure leading to the community.
He explained that Naridon shares a boundary with parts of Plateau State but lacks a motorable access road, making it difficult for security personnel and emergency responders to reach the area promptly.
According to him, the absence of a functional road hampered rescue efforts and reduced the chances of many residents escaping from the attackers.
He appealed to both the Federal and Kaduna State Governments to prioritise the construction of an access road to the community, insisting that improved infrastructure would enhance security operations and emergency response.
The community leader also called for the immediate deployment of additional security personnel to prevent further attacks, stressing that residents now live in constant fear.
Alleged ‘prolonged attack’: Another resident (who requested anonymity, for security reasons) alleged that the attack lasted for about three hours without any intervention from security operatives.
The resident claimed that, despite the presence of military formations in nearby Kamaru and Ungwan Magaji – located approximately two kilometres from Naridon, help did not arrive, while the attack was ongoing.
The source further alleged that 22 members of the Rana family were among those killed during the invasion.
According to the resident, businesses and other private properties were also destroyed, compounding the humanitarian crisis facing survivors.
The resident expressed concern over what was described as “inadequate security deployment” to the community after the attack, alleging that only one military personnel and four Mobile Police officers were eventually stationed in the area.
Renewed concerns over insecurity: The latest killings have heightened concerns among residents of Kauru Local Government Area, which has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups over the years.
Several communities in the area have suffered deadly invasions that resulted in loss of lives, destruction of homes, displacement of residents and disruption of economic activities.
Community leaders have consistently appealed for stronger security measures, improved intelligence gathering and increased military presence to halt the recurring attacks.
The renewed violence is expected to reignite calls for decisive action by both the Federal and Kaduna State Governments to restore peace to the affected communities and ensure that displaced residents can safely return to their homes.
As at the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident.
Residents of the area have, therefore, appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance, increased security presence and swift government intervention to prevent further loss of lives in affected villages.