Gunmen Kill 13 at Kaduna Wedding
A joyous wedding celebration in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, turned into a scene of horror on Sunday March 29 night after heavily armed gunmen invaded the venue and opened fire on guests.
Global Mirror News gathered that at least 13 people were killed during the attack, while several others sustained gunshot wounds and an unspecified number of residents were abducted.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, suspected to be bandits, stormed the community at about 11:00 p.m. carrying AK-47 rifles before heading straight to the wedding venue. They reportedly fired repeatedly into the gathering, forcing guests to flee in different directions.
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers operated for nearly one hour without resistance.
“In the middle of the celebration, we suddenly heard gunshots everywhere. People began running for safety, but many were trapped inside the hall. Some of my friends were shot and taken to the hospital,” the witness said.
Several injured victims were rushed to Kagarko General Hospital for emergency treatment, while two others said to be in critical condition were transferred to Kaduna for further medical attention.
According to community sources, the victims killed in the attack include 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.
Residents also disclosed that some wedding guests may have been abducted during the chaos, although the exact number of those taken away has not yet been confirmed.
Global Mirror News further gathered that after attacking the wedding venue, the gunmen moved through parts of the village, raiding shops and looting food items, provisions and medicines from a local chemist store.
A community leader said the entire village was thrown into confusion as residents fled into nearby bushes to escape the gunmen.
“The shooting was continuous and terrifying. Women and children were crying and running in different directions. Many people spent the night in the bush because nobody felt safe enough to remain in the village,” the source said.
The community leader added that the victims have already been buried in accordance with local customs, while no contact had yet been established with those believed to have carried out the abductions.
A Police source attached to the Kagarko Divisional Headquarters confirmed the incident, saying security operatives were still working to determine the actual number of persons kidnapped during the attack.
The spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, also confirmed the killings and abductions. He said the command was compiling a comprehensive report and assured residents that security agencies had begun investigations into the incident.
The latest attack has once again raised concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Kaduna State, particularly in communities within Kagarko Local Government Area, where residents have repeatedly complained of recurring attacks by armed group.
