No fewer than 13 persons were killed and several others abducted when suspected bandits attacked a wedding ceremony in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state.
The incident, which occurred at about 11:47 p.m. on Sunday, has heightened concerns over persistent attacks on rural communities in the state.
A resident of Kagarko, Shehu Bala, who confirmed the incident on Monday, said the attackers stormed the venue in large numbers, armed with AK-47 rifles, and opened fire on guests.
“The bandits came in large numbers and started shooting inside the hall. Many people were hit, and several others were taken away,” he said.
He added that victims who sustained gunshot injuries were rushed to the General Hospital in Kagarko, while two others with severe injuries were referred to Kaduna for advanced treatment.
“In fact, two of my friends who were inside the hall also sustained bullet injuries during the attack,” he said.
Bala noted that the exact number of those abducted remains unclear due to the chaotic nature of the incident.
“But one cannot ascertain the number of those kidnapped because of the sporadic shooting,” he added.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers operated for nearly one hour without resistance.
“They moved freely, invaded shops and carted away foodstuff, provisions and drugs from a chemist in the community,” he said.
He added that those killed in the attack have since been buried, while efforts to establish contact with the abductors have not been successful.
“The entire community was thrown into panic due to the sporadic shooting. Some residents had to flee into the bush for safety,” he said.
A police source at the Kagarko Division confirmed the incident, noting that security agencies are yet to determine the exact number of abducted persons.
As at the time of filling this report, police authorities were yet to officially react to the incident.
