A night of celebration turned into a scene of horror in Kahir village after heavily armed terrorists invaded a wedding ceremony late Sunday night, killing at least 13 guests and abducting several others in a brutal attack that has once again exposed the deepening insecurity across Kaduna State.
According to reports by Daily Trust, the attackers stormed the wedding venue around 11:47pm, wielding AK-47 rifles and opening fire indiscriminately on guests who had gathered to celebrate.
Eyewitnesses described the attack as sudden, chaotic, and terrifying, with gunmen arriving in large numbers and shooting sporadically into the crowd, forcing residents and guests to flee for their lives.
A resident of Kagarko, Shehu Bala, who spoke via telephone on Monday, confirmed the scale of the violence, saying the attackers overwhelmed the community and operated freely.
“They came in their numbers and started shooting sporadically at people,” Bala said, adding that several victims sustained gunshot injuries during the assault. Some of the wounded were rushed to Kagarko General Hospital, while two victims with critical injuries were transferred to facilities in Kaduna for urgent medical care.
Bala also revealed that the number of abducted victims remains unclear due to the confusion and panic that followed the attack.
“In fact, there are two of my friends who were inside the hall that also sustained bullet injuries during the attack,” he said. “But one cannot ascertain the number of those that were kidnapped because of the sporadic shootings.”
A community leader, who requested anonymity for security reasons, confirmed the deaths and identified 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.
Residents disclosed that the gunmen operated for nearly one hour without resistance, during which they not only carried out killings and abductions but also looted shops within the community. Food items, provisions, and drugs were reportedly carted away from a local chemist, further deepening the devastation left behind.
“The entire community was thrown into panic because of the heavy gunfire,” the community leader said, explaining that many residents fled into nearby bushes for safety as the attackers unleashed terror across the village.
The victims have since been buried, while families of those abducted remain in anguish as efforts to establish contact with the kidnappers have so far yielded no results.
A police source at the Kagarko Division confirmed the attack, stating that authorities are still working to determine the exact number of those kidnapped.
The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, also confirmed the killings and abductions but noted that details were still emerging.
“The command is yet to get full details of the incident in Kahir community,” Mansur said. “A comprehensive report will be made available after due assessment.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, alongside a federal lawmaker, Senator Sani Musa, visited injured victims receiving treatment at Kagarko hospital, offering support to survivors and families affected by the attack.
The incident marks another violent escalation in Kagarko and surrounding communities, which have remained under persistent threat from armed groups. Reports indicate that communities such as Janjala have continued to experience attacks, with at least 14 persons abducted three weeks ago still in captivity.
For residents of Kahir and surrounding villages, the wedding massacre has once again underscored the growing insecurity across rural communities in Kaduna, where celebrations, farming, and daily life are increasingly overshadowed by fear, uncertainty, and the ever-present threat of violence.