Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kaduna State Government has strongly condemned a brutal attack on Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area that claimed the lives of at least 30 people, including women, children, and five siblings from the same family. The assault, which occurred late Sunday night, July 26, 2026, into the early hours of Monday, July 27, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the persistent insecurity plaguing Southern Kaduna communities.
According to residents and community leaders, armed gunmen stormed Naridon village, located in Kamaru Ward along the border between Kaduna and Plateau states, shortly after midnight. The attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, opened fire indiscriminately on sleeping residents and set homes and shops ablaze in an operation that lasted approximately three hours. Derek Christopher, chairman of the Southern Kaduna Peace and Security Network, confirmed that the same community had been attacked around the same time last year, suggesting a troubling pattern of violence against vulnerable farming communities.
The human cost of the attack has been devastating. A former youth leader in the area, Friday Ango, reported that one family lost five children in the assault, identified as Deborah, Friday, Yusuf, Yunana, and Irimiya Emmanuel, while their parents narrowly escaped. Ango initially confirmed 24 deaths but noted that the toll could rise, while other community sources later placed the figure at about 30. Another resident, Barnabas Musa, confirmed that at least 30 bodies, including women and children, had been recovered. The attackers reportedly carried out their operation without significant resistance, forcing residents to flee into the night. No abductions were immediately reported, suggesting the assault was primarily intended to kill and destroy rather than kidnap for ransom.
In a swift response, the Kaduna State Government issued a statement through the Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy. Governor Uba Sani condemned the attack as barbaric and unacceptable, directing security agencies to intensify operations to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The government also ordered the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to immediately deploy relief materials and humanitarian support to affected families.
Governor Sani extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased, as well as the speedy recovery of the injured. The government reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with Plateau State authorities, security agencies, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to strengthen security cooperation along the Kaduna-Plateau border and prevent future attacks. Residents were urged to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive of security forces with credible information.
The Southern Kaduna Peoples' Union, in an open letter dated July 27 addressed to the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, condemned the attack and called for urgent, decisive action to halt the escalating violence. SOKAPU President Tabara Samuel Kato expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in rural and farming communities, noting that residents of Kajuru, Chikun, Kauru, and Zangon Kataf local government areas continue to live in constant fear despite repeated security assurances. The group called for a shift from reactive security responses to proactive, intelligence-driven policing, including the deployment of mobile police and counter-terrorism units to vulnerable rural areas.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the massacre, describing it as a painful indictment of the federal government's failure to protect lives and property. In a statement issued by his media aide, Atiku criticised what he described as the government's preoccupation with public relations while communities continued to suffer deadly attacks. The Save Nigeria Group USA and the U.S.-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition also demanded justice and stronger security measures, describing the attack as a coordinated assault on unarmed civilians. Amnesty International has reportedly condemned the killings as well, with the organisation noting that the attack may be one of the deadliest recorded in villages in Southern Kaduna, where some communities have experienced similar attacks over five times.
The attack comes amid a broader wave of violence in Southern Kaduna. Just days earlier, reports indicated that at least eight people linked to two groups of hostages abducted from Ariko and Awon villages in Kachia Local Government Area died while in captivity, including a newborn delivered by a kidnapped woman. The recurring violence has raised fresh concerns over the security situation in Kauru and other parts of Southern Kaduna, where attacks on communities have become frequent. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attack, but armed groups known locally as bandits regularly carry out raids and kidnappings for ransom in the northwest and north-central parts of Nigeria. As the community of Naridon mourns its dead and buries its victims, the call for lasting peace and effective protection has never been more urgent.
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