BREAKING: Dozens Feared Killed As Terrorists Open Fire On Wedding Guests
Bandits have killed 13 people and abducted an unspecified number of guests after attacking a wedding ceremony in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A resident of the area, Shehu Bala, told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Monday that the attack occurred at about 11:47pm on Sunday.
He said the attackers, armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed the wedding venue in large numbers and opened fire inside the hall, killing 13 persons on the spot.
According to him, several other guests sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries and were rushed to Kagarko General Hospital, while two victims with serious injuries were referred to Kaduna for further treatment.
Police Confirm 14 Killed in Plateau Attack
Cyclist stabbed to death in FCT community
“There are two of my friends who were inside the hall during the attack and they were also hit by bullets,” he said.
Bala added that it was difficult to determine the number of persons abducted due to the chaos that followed the attack.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, also confirmed the incident and listed the names of those killed.
He said the attackers operated for nearly an hour without resistance and also looted shops in the community, carting away food items, provisions and drugs from a chemist.
He added that the victims had already been buried, while no contact had been established with the abductors.
“The entire community was thrown into confusion as residents fled into the bush due to the sporadic shooting,” he said.
The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, also confirmed the attack, saying the number of abducted persons was still being verified.
He said a comprehensive report would be issued once full details were obtained.
“The command is yet to get details of the incident that happened in Kahir community, but a comprehensive report on the incident will made available after getting details of the incident,” he said.
Security operatives have since launched a search operation to track the fleeing attackers and rescue the abducted victims.
It was also gathered that the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, and Senator Sani Musa visited injured victims receiving treatment at the Kagarko General Hospital.
It was reports that several communities, including Janjala, have remained under sustained attacks by bandits.
In one of the incidents, 14 people, including a vigilante and his wife, were abducted about three weeks ago and are still in captivity.
The abductors are reportedly demanding N14 million as ransom for their release.
