Atiku Faults Tinubu Government Over Fresh Kaduna Killings, Demands Security Overhaul

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the killing of no fewer than 30 people in an overnight attack on Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing it as further evidence of the failure of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to protect the lives of Nigerians.

The attack occurred in the Chawai Chiefdom area of Naridon between about midnight and 3am on Monday, 27 July 2026, according to residents. Gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen stormed the community while many residents were asleep, opening fire indiscriminately for more than three hours before setting houses and shops ablaze.

The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Dogon Rana, told journalists that 30 people have so far been confirmed dead, including eight children, while four others sustained critical injuries. He said the community’s lack of a motorable access road delayed emergency response and contributed to the high casualty figure.

Reacting to the killings, Atiku, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for 2027, said in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, that the tragedy was an indictment of the government’s security record.

“Every life lost is a painful indictment of a government that has repeatedly promised security but continues to preside over an expanding landscape of bloodshed,” Atiku said. He added that no nation can claim progress when its citizens are hunted down in their homes by criminals operating with impunity.

Atiku also criticised senior government officials for publicising an unverified claim of a commendation letter from the United States government at a time when Nigerians are mourning the attack. He said Southern Kaduna residents and other Nigerians need security rather than diplomatic praise, and called for a comprehensive review of the country’s security architecture, including intelligence-driven operations and swift justice for perpetrators.

Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command and the Federal Ministry of Information for comment on the attack and Atiku’s remarks were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Monday’s attack is the latest in a series of killings in Kauru Local Government Area this year, including a June attack on Angwan Magaji community in the same area that left nine people dead. Southern Kaduna has recorded repeated attacks on communities in recent years, with residents and rights groups repeatedly appealing to federal and state authorities to strengthen security in the area.