Many residents killed in midnight attack on Kaduna communities

Gunmen have killed at least 20 persons in an attack on Malagum 1 and Sokwong communities of Kagoro Chiefdom in Kaura LGA of Kaduna state.

TheCable understands that the death toll may be higher as several residents have been reported missing.

The attack was said to have occurred on Sunday at around 11pm and lasted for over one hour.

A resident of the area told TheCable that many houses were set ablaze in the attack.

“I was there in the morning. I personally saw eight corpses myself. When I was counting the burnt houses, I actually got six before some youths started some uproar, and I left immediately,” the resident said.

“But the report that is getting to me now is that 21 corpses were picked, and some people are missing. Nobody knows where they are.

“It is possible that they could have run to some other houses for safety.

They (gunmen) came around 11pm on Sunday and the attack lasted for over an hour.

“The situation is tense, the youths are angry, they are saying that they should be allowed to get into the bush to look for the missing people.

“Women were crying. I know somebody whose father, mother and brother were killed.

“As I left there, there were security deployments. There are police and the joint task force.”

Mohammed Jalige, Kaduna police spokesperson, did not respond to calls or messages when contacted for comment on the attack.

The development comes weeks after 15 persons were killed in separate attacks on communities in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, and Kajuru LGAs of Kaduna state.