Gunmen Attack Wedding in Kaduna, Kill 13, Abduct Several Guests

Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, CP Muhammad Rabiu

Gunmen Attack Wedding in Kaduna, Kill 13, Abduct Several Guests

Suspected bandits have attacked a wedding ceremony in Kahir village, located in Kagarko Local Government Area, killing at least 13 people and abducting an unspecified number of guests.

The incident occurred late Sunday night in Kaduna State when heavily armed assailants reportedly stormed the venue and opened fire on attendees gathered for the celebration.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers arrived at about 11:47 p.m., shooting indiscriminately inside the wedding hall and causing widespread panic. A resident, Shehu Bala, said some guests sustained gunshot injuries during the assault.

According to reports, the gunmen operated for nearly an hour without resistance, leaving several casualties in their wake.

Injured victims were initially taken to Kagarko General Hospital, while those with critical injuries were later transferred to medical facilities in Kaduna for advanced treatment.

A community leader confirmed that 13 people lost their lives in the attack and have since been buried. He added that efforts are ongoing to ascertain the exact number of those abducted by the assailants.

The attackers were also said to have looted shops within the community, carting away food items, provisions, and drugs from a local chemist during the raid.

“The entire community was thrown into panic due to the heavy gunfire, forcing many residents to flee into nearby bushes,” the community leader said.

Police authorities in Kagarko have confirmed the incident but stated that investigations are still ongoing, particularly regarding the number of abducted victims. The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, also confirmed the attack, noting that a comprehensive report would be released upon conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, alongside a serving senator, visited injured victims receiving treatment at the hospital in Kagarko.