Abuja, Nigeria (Running Africa) — At least 30 people, including eight children, have been killed after armed gunmen attacked Naridon village in Kaduna State, opening fire on residents before setting homes ablaze in one of the latest deadly assaults to hit northwestern Nigeria.
Residents said the attackers stormed the community around midnight, targeting civilians, including women, children and elderly residents. Several others were injured, while survivors fled as homes were engulfed in flames.
The massacre underscores Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, where recurring attacks by heavily armed criminal gangs—commonly known as bandits—continue to devastate rural communities across the country’s northwest and north-central regions.
Midnight Raid Leaves Village Devastated
Witnesses said the gunmen moved through Naridon village under the cover of darkness, shooting indiscriminately before torching houses.
Local residents described scenes of panic as families attempted to escape the violence, with many left homeless after the attack destroyed large sections of the community.
Emergency responders and security personnel reportedly arrived several hours after the assault, by which time the attackers had fled.
No group has claimed responsibility for the killings.
Kaduna Continues to Face Deadly Bandit Attacks
The latest attack is part of a prolonged wave of violence that has plagued Kaduna State, where communities have endured repeated attacks, kidnappings for ransom and mass killings in recent years.
Naridon village was also reportedly targeted in a similar assault last year, highlighting the persistent insecurity affecting the area despite ongoing military operations.
Bandit groups operating across northwestern Nigeria have increasingly launched coordinated attacks on villages, often looting property, abducting residents and killing civilians.
Nigerian Leaders Order Security Crackdown
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani condemned the killings, describing the attack as a senseless act of violence against innocent civilians.
The governor directed security agencies to intensify operations to identify and apprehend those responsible while ordering emergency assistance for affected families and displaced residents.
President Bola Tinubu also denounced the attack and instructed security agencies to pursue the perpetrators, rescue any abducted villagers and strengthen security measures to restore peace in the area.
Nigeria’s Security Crisis Deepens
The attack comes as Nigeria continues to confront multiple security threats across different regions of the country.
While Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remain active in the northeast, northwestern states such as Kaduna continue to face escalating violence from armed bandit groups responsible for widespread killings, kidnappings and displacement.
The continued attacks have intensified calls for stronger security operations and long-term measures to protect vulnerable communities, as thousands of families across northern Nigeria remain at risk from persistent armed violence.
