Gunmen kill 30 in fresh attack on Kaduna community

No fewer than 30 people were reportedly killed after armed assailants attacked Naridon village in Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, in the early hours of Monday.

According to reports, the gunmen invaded the community around 1 a.m., opening fire on residents and causing widespread panic as people fled for safety.

Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International said the attackers chased villagers who attempted to escape into nearby bushes, killing many of them.

The rights organisation described the attack as one of the deadliest in southern Kaduna in recent times, noting that the death toll could rise as more bodies continue to be recovered from homes and surrounding farmlands.

It also said several residents remain unaccounted for, with efforts ongoing to determine the full extent of the casualties.

In a statement, Amnesty International criticised the government’s handling of the persistent insecurity, saying President Bola Tinubu’s assurances that security agencies would restore safety to rural communities have yet to translate into meaningful results.

According to the organisation, images obtained from the scene showed entire families allegedly slaughtered inside their homes.

It claimed some victims, including children, were found with severe injuries, while bloodstains were visible in bedrooms, kitchens, and along escape routes used by residents trying to flee the attackers.

Amnesty International further noted that several communities across southern Kaduna have suffered repeated attacks over the years, with some villages allegedly targeted multiple times.

The organisation argued that the continued violence reflects the authorities’ failure to adequately protect residents and prosecute those responsible, warning that the lack of accountability is encouraging further attacks.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had not released an official statement on the incident.