At least 13 persons have been killed, and several others abducted after suspected bandits attacked a wedding ceremony in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident, which occurred late Sunday night at about 11:47 pm, has triggered fresh fears over rising insecurity in rural communities across the state.
Eyewitnesses said that the gunmen, who arrived in large numbers and were armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the wedding venue and opened fire indiscriminately on guests.
A resident of the area, Shehu Bala, said the incident plunged the community into chaos, as guests scampered for safety.
‘They came in large numbers and started shooting sporadically. People were running in different directions. Many were hit by bullets’, Bala said.
He added that several victims sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in Kagarko, while those in critical condition were referred to facilities in Kaduna for advanced medical attention.
Bala further noted that the exact number of abducted persons could not be immediately ascertained due to the confusion that trailed the attack.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the assailants operated for nearly one hour without any resistance from security forces.
‘They attacked the wedding and later moved around the village, looting shops and carting away food items, provisions and even medical supplies’, the source said.
According to him, many residents fled into nearby bushes as the sound of gunshots echoed throughout the community.
It was gathered that the victims have since been buried, while efforts to establish contact with the abductors have not yielded results.
He gave the names of some of those killed as Bako Danjuma, Williams Luka, Peter Williams, Joseph Yakubu,
Victor Peter, John Dan Asabe, Angulu Markus, Maikano Aribi, Douglas John, Ado Yakubu, Zaphaniah Alhaji, Joseph Kaddah and Francis Unguwa Doya.
A police source in Kagarko confirmed the incident, noting that security agencies had commenced efforts to determine the number of those abducted and track down the perpetrators.
The spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent Hassan Mansur, also confirmed the attack, assuring that a detailed report would be made available after preliminary investigations.
‘We are aware of the incident, and investigations are ongoing. A comprehensive report will be released in due course’, Mansur said.
Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, alongside Senator Sani Musa, visited injured victims receiving treatment at a hospital in Kagarko.
Sources at the hospital said some of the victims were responding to treatment, while others remained in critical condition.
The latest attack underscores the persistent insecurity in parts of Kaduna State, where several communities have continued to suffer repeated assaults by bandits.
Residents of affected areas have repeatedly called on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to curb the menace and protect lives and property.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that at least 14 persons abducted in nearby communities three weeks ago are still being held in captivity, raising further concerns among locals over their safety.
As of press time, security operatives were said to be combing the surrounding forests in search of the attackers and those abducted.
