President Tinubu orders security chiefs to fish out Kaduna killers

President Bola Tinubu has condemned the midnight massacre of at least 30 residents, including eight children, in Naridon Village, Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The President described the attack as a barbaric and cowardly act against defenceless residents and directed the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force and intelligence agencies to intensify operations to track down the perpetrators, secure the release of abducted victims and restore normalcy to the area.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled “President Tinubu Strongly Condemns Attack In Kauru Local Government Area Of Kaduna State.”

Tinubu orders security crackdown

According to Mr Onanuga, President Tinubu also expressed condolences to the bereaved families, Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, and the people of the state, assuring them that the Federal Government stands with them during the difficult period.

The President said, “I have directed the Armed Forces, police, and relevant intelligence agencies to intensify operations across the affected areas to track down the perpetrators swiftly, secure the release of abducted individuals, and restore normalcy to the region.

“Our administration has an unwavering commitment to strengthening security infrastructure, equipping response personnel, and neutralising criminal networks attempting to disrupt the peace of the nation.

“I urge our local communities to cooperate with security forces by providing actionable intelligence that would help early response efforts.”

Gunmen kill residents, burn homes

The attackers reportedly invaded Naridon Village at about 11 p.m. on Sunday, shooting indiscriminately before setting homes and shops ablaze.

Survivors said the gunmen operated for several hours, leaving widespread destruction, grieving families and many displaced residents.

The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Dogon Rana, confirmed the attack in a telephone interview on Monday, describing it as one of the deadliest assaults the community has experienced in recent years.

Mr Rana alleged that 22 members of the Rana family were among those killed, adding that despite military formations being located about two kilometres away in nearby Kamaru and Ungwan Magaji, no help arrived while the attack was ongoing.

Naridon is a border community between Kaduna State and Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Kaduna, Plateau strengthen security cooperation

The Kaduna State Government said it would work with the Plateau State Government, security agencies, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen security cooperation and improve protection for communities along the Kaduna–Plateau border.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International described the assault as one of the deadliest attacks on communities in Southern Kaduna in recent years.

The organisation said gunmen invaded the village, killed residents and chased those fleeing into nearby bushes, where many were reportedly murdered.

Dozens of residents remain missing, while local efforts to establish the full death toll continue as more bodies are recovered from homes and surrounding farmlands.

In a statement, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, said Governor Sani had directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to provide immediate relief and humanitarian assistance to affected families.

Mr Maiyaki added that the governor also ordered security agencies to intensify efforts to arrest those responsible for the killings.

History of recurring attacks

The Naridon attack is the latest in a series of recurring violent attacks in Southern Kaduna that have claimed hundreds of lives over the past decade.

The region, which is predominantly made up of Christian farming communities, has experienced repeated attacks largely blamed on armed herdsmen.

In December 2022, a similar attack in Sokwong and Mallagum communities in neighbouring Kaura Local Government Area left more than 46 people dead.