7 killed as gunmen launch deadly attack in Southern Kaduna

No fewer than seven residents were killed and one person injured when suspected gunmen attacked Damakasuwa community in the Chawai Chiefdom of Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

The incident, which occurred around 8 p.m. on Friday, reportedly sent villagers fleeing into nearby bushes as the attackers fired sporadically.

Eyewitnesses said the assault plunged the community into chaos, with gunshots ringing for several minutes before any security response.

Confirming the attack, the Paramount Chief of Chawai, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, said five people were shot dead on the spot, while two others who sustained critical gunshot wounds later died.

“The incident has heightened tension in the area, but normalcy has since been restored due to the presence of military personnel in the community.We’ve urged our people to remain calm and allow the security agencies to carry out their diligent work to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended,” he said.

A youth leader in the area, Barnabas Chawai, recounted that the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately on villagers, many of whom were either preparing for bed or still engaged in evening routines.

“They came when people were going about their normal routines, while some had already gone to bed. Six people were killed on the spot, and one person who sustained a gunshot wound to the throat was rushed to Jos for treatment,” Chawai said.

Residents said the attack has spread fear among neighbouring communities within the Chawai axis of Kauru LGA, which has suffered repeated incidents of killings, kidnappings, and armed assaults in recent months.

As of press time, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

Villagers appealed to the Kaduna State Government and security operatives to increase patrols and surveillance to prevent further attacks.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages to his phone were not returned.

Kauru Local Government Area, located in the southern part of Kaduna, has remained one of the state’s most volatile regions, witnessing recurrent cases of armed banditry and communal violence over the years.

(PUNCH)