No fewer than 30 persons are feared to have been killed in a deadly overnight attack on Chawai community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with many residents fleeing their homes amid fears of renewed violence.
The latest attack, which reportedly lasted for several hours on Sunday night, has sparked widespread condemnation, with former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU) calling for urgent intervention by security agencies to halt the recurring bloodshed in the area.
A resident of Kauru, Mr. Mark Vincent, told the BBC Hausa Service that heavily armed attackers invaded the community at night, allegedly going from house to house attacking residents.
According to him, 28 bodies were deposited at a mortuary, while two other victims were buried, bringing the death toll to about 30. He added that seven injured residents were receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at a hospital.
Vincent rejected claims that the incident resulted from a clash between farmers and herders, insisting that the victims were attacked inside their homes.
He alleged that about 50 armed men carried out the assault and operated for nearly three hours before leaving the community.
The casualty figures could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report, while the Kaduna State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the attack.
The incident has forced many residents of Kauru and neighbouring communities to flee to safer areas over fears of further attacks.
Reacting to the killings, Atiku described the attack as “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” saying the continued loss of innocent lives underscored the urgent need for government to strengthen security across the country.
“No government can claim meaningful progress while innocent citizens continue to lose their lives in their homes and communities,” Atiku said, urging authorities to make the protection of lives and property their top priority.
The former Vice President also criticised what he described as the focus by some senior government officials on an unverified claim of a letter of commendation from the United States, insisting that the nation’s immediate concern should be ending the wave of killings and restoring peace in affected communities.
Also reacting, the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU) urged the Kaduna State Police Command to immediately reinforce security across Southern Kaduna to stem the rising cases of killings, kidnappings and destruction of farmlands.
In an open letter dated July 27 and addressed to the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, SOKAPU President, Engr. Tabara Samuel Kato, said the latest attack reflected the worsening security situation in Kauru, Kajuru, Chikun and Zangon Kataf local government areas.
The union said the reported killings in Chawai, Narido and other communities had displaced many families from their ancestral homes, heightened fear among residents and threatened farming activities at the peak of the rainy season.
SOKAPU called on security agencies to adopt intelligence-driven operations, deploy additional Mobile Police personnel and specialised counter-terrorism units to vulnerable communities and forest corridors, dismantle criminal hideouts and improve response to distress calls.
The group stressed that safeguarding lives and property remained the constitutional responsibility of government and urged Governor Uba Sani and security agencies to take swift and decisive action to prevent further attacks and displacement in Southern Kaduna.
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