Horror of Naridon Village Attack
Survivors of the deadly terrorist attack on Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have recounted the horror they witnessed during the assault that claimed 30 lives, including five siblings from the same family, according to accounts from the scene. The armed attackers stormed the village in the early hours of Monday, shooting sporadically at residents. They killed dozens of people, set houses ablaze, looted food items and forced villagers to flee into nearby bushes for safety. Although security has since been reinforced and relative calm restored, many residents said they were still afraid to return home for fear that the attackers might strike again.
Survivor Auta Danladi's Plea to His Father
One of the survivors, Auta Danladi, who lost his father and an uncle, said he survived only by the grace of God. He recounted that his parents refused to flee when the gunmen invaded the community and his father was later killed. “When I heard that the attackers were coming, I rushed out of the house. There was confusion everywhere and everyone started running for safety,” he said. “I tried all I could to persuade my father and my mother to leave, but they refused. In the end, my father was killed. I quickly ran into the bush and hid.” Danladi added that he saw the attackers pass close to where he was lying, but God did not allow them to see him. They burned his house and his in-law’s house as well. “I have left everything in the hands of God. I don’t have the strength to fight, but God witnessed what they did. As the first son of the family, I was shattered when I learned that my father and my uncle had been killed. My father was the one I depended on for survival, but now he is gone,” he said.
Alheri Joseph: Living in Fear of Return
Another survivor, Alheri Joseph, described how the sound of gunfire shattered the peace of the night and forced families to flee for their lives. “We were sitting together when we suddenly heard gunshots from different directions. I escaped with my children to another village, while those who remained behind were killed,” he said. “Why did they attack us? What is our offence? We are living in fear because we don’t know whether they will come back again. We are worried that this may not be the end.” Joseph expressed deep pain over the death of relatives, calling on the government to do justice. “Whenever such incidents happen, government officials come, make promises and later forget them. This is not just about bringing relief materials. Lives have been lost. What we need is protection,” he stated.
Blessing Luka Questions Motive
Another resident, Blessing Luka, who lost her co-wife and other relatives in the attack, said the community had no idea why it was targeted. She recalled that about two weeks ago, a herder was killed somewhere and his body was abandoned in their village. His relatives later came to evacuate the body. “We don’t know who killed him or what happened. We had no involvement in it, but suddenly they came and attacked us, killing our family members. This is not the first time such killings have happened here, yet nothing has been done to stop them,” she said.
President Tinubu Orders Security Action
In response to the attack, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the security and intelligence agencies to track down the perpetrators. Speaking during a visit by security agencies on Tuesday, the survivors described the attack as cruel and devastating. Some survivors linked the assault to the recent killing of a herder whose body was allegedly dumped in the community. The survivors appealed to security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to take decisive action to end the recurring attacks and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. They said the community could no longer continue to live under the constant fear of losing more innocent lives.
