Condemnation has continued to mount over the killing of at least 30 people in Naridon (Kizakoro) community, Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Save Nigeria Group USA in collaboration with the U.S.–Nigeria Civil Society Coalition called for immediate measures to end the violence.
The attack, which reportedly took place between late Sunday and the early hours of Monday, left men, women and children dead, while several houses and businesses were destroyed by fire.
Initial reports indicated that the assailants invaded the community shortly before midnight, taking residents by surprise as they slept. Women, children and entire families were reportedly killed in their homes before many of the buildings were set ablaze, leaving victims with little chance of escape. The incident reportedly wiped out multiple generations within some families, highlighting the devastating impact on the largely farming community.
Reacting separately, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, described the killings as another indication of what he termed the Federal Government’s inability to meet its constitutional obligation of protecting lives and property.
“The reported killing of scores of innocent Nigerians in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State is heartbreaking and unacceptable. Every life lost is a painful indictment of a government that has repeatedly promised security but continues to preside over an expanding landscape of bloodshed.
“No nation can claim progress when its citizens are hunted down in their homes and communities by criminals who operate with such frightening impunity,” Atiku said in a statement by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu.
The former vice president also criticised what he described as the administration’s focus on public relations while communities continued to face deadly attacks.
“It is deeply troubling that while Nigerians mourn yet another massacre, senior officials of this administration have been busy criss-crossing television studios and social media platforms brandishing what they describe as an unverified claim of a letter of commendation from the United States Government,” he said.
According to Atiku, the true measure of any government is its ability to guarantee the safety of its citizens rather than seek international accolades.
“The people of Southern Kaduna—and indeed all Nigerians—do not need letters of praise from foreign capitals. They need security. They need to sleep without fear, travel without anxiety, cultivate their farms in peace and raise their children without the constant threat of terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals.
“Governance is not a public relations exercise. It is measured by the safety of the people and by a government’s ability to protect its citizens from harm,” he added.
Atiku further called for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, advocating intelligence-driven operations, prompt prosecution of perpetrators and proactive measures to prevent future attacks. He also extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
In a statement, the coalition alleged that suspected Fulani militants launched the attack at about 11:55 p.m., opening fire on sleeping residents before setting homes on fire. It said the incident reflected a continuing pattern of violence targeting agrarian and minority Christian communities across Southern Kaduna, blaming repeated security failures for exposing rural populations to attacks.
The coalition stated that entire families were among those killed, while three other residents sustained critical injuries. It added that several homes and shops were also destroyed during the assault.
“This is not a casual local dispute; it is a coordinated assault on unarmed civilians in their homes,” the coalition’s spokesperson, Stephen Osemwegie, said.
“The persistent impunity enjoyed by these armed groups only invites further devastation. We call on Nigerian security authorities to fulfill their constitutional mandate to protect all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation,” the group added.
The coalition urged security agencies to swiftly arrest and prosecute those responsible for the killings. It also appealed to the United States government and Congress to increase diplomatic engagement with Nigeria to strengthen the protection of vulnerable communities. In addition, it called on international media organisations to sustain coverage of the crisis in Southern Kaduna and appealed to humanitarian agencies to provide emergency medical assistance, food and shelter for displaced residents.
