How 13 wedding guests were killed in Kaduna attack
Bandits invaded a wedding party in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 13 people and abducting several others. A resident of Kagarko, Shehu Bala, who confirmed the incident to our reporter via telephone on Monday, said the attack occurred around 11.47pm on Sunday. He explained that the bandits, in their numbers […]
How 13 wedding guests were killed in Kaduna attack
Bandits invaded a wedding party in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 13 people and abducting several others.
A resident of Kagarko, Shehu Bala, who confirmed the incident to our reporter via telephone on Monday, said the attack occurred around 11.47pm on Sunday.
He explained that the bandits, in their numbers and armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed the wedding venue and opened fire on the hall, resulting in the death of 13 people on the spot.
He added that several others sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in Kagarko, while two victims with severe injuries were referred to Kaduna for further treatment.
“In fact, two of my friends who were inside the hall also sustained gunshot injuries during the attack,” he said.
Bala noted that it was difficult to ascertain the number of those abducted due to the sporadic shooting by the assailants.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, also confirmed the incident.
He listed the victims as 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.
He said the bandits, who operated for nearly an hour without resistance, also looted shops, carting away foodstuffs, provisions, and drugs from a patent medicine store.
The community leader added that the victims had since been buried, while contact had yet to be established with the abductors.
“The entire community was thrown into pandemonium due to the sporadic gunfire on Sunday, forcing some residents to flee into the bush,” he said.
A police source at the Kagarko Division, who also spoke anonymously, confirmed the incident, noting that authorities were yet to determine the exact number of abducted persons.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, confirmed the attack, including the killing and abduction of villagers at the wedding party.
He, however, said the command was still gathering details and would issue a comprehensive report later.
“The command is yet to obtain full details of the incident in Kahir community, but a comprehensive report will be made available once this is done,” he said.
The police spokesperson added that security operatives were on the trail of the fleeing bandits with a view to rescuing those abducted.
Daily Trust had earlier reported that several communities, including Janjala, have been under siege by bandits.
About 14 people, including a vigilante and his wife, who were abducted three weeks ago in the area, remain in captivity.
The abductors are reportedly demanding a ransom of N14 million for their release.