At least 13 people were killed and several others abducted when armed bandits attacked a wedding in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Scores of guests were injured in the incident.
Police in Kaduna confirmed the attack and said they are still gathering details, including the exact number of abducted victims.
Musa Adamu, a community leader, stated that the attack occurred around 11:47 p.m. on Sunday.
“The attackers, who arrived in large numbers and were armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the venue and began shooting indiscriminately at guests inside the hall,” he said.
Those injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Kagarko, while patients with more critical wounds were referred to medical facilities in Kaduna.
Residents reported that the gunmen operated for nearly an hour without resistance, looting nearby shops and taking food, provisions, and medicines from a local chemist.
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A manhunt for the attackers has been launched, according to police authorities.
Kaduna is one of several states in Nigeria’s North-West facing regular attacks from bandits, alongside Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Katsina.
Another armed group, Lakurawa, has been blamed for raids in parts of Kebbi and Sokoto, often stealing livestock and imposing levies on local communities.
In December, the Federal Government, in coordination with the United States military, conducted an airstrike in Sokoto targeting members of both Lakurawa and other bandit gangs.
Despite military operations, the security situation remains challenging.
The conflict has spread to neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the creation of a regional military coalition, which has weakened after Niger withdrew following a diplomatic dispute with Nigeria in 2023.
Earlier this month, the United States began deploying troops to Nigeria to provide technical support and training to Nigerian soldiers combating jihadist and bandit groups.
The US Africa Command said a total of 200 troops are expected to take part in the deployment.