Over 30 killed in Kaduna gunmen attack on Nigerian community
Synopsis
Gunmen surrounded and attacked a remote community in Kaduna, Nigeria's restive north, killing more than 30 people including children and torching homes and shops. With police yet to comment and the death toll still rising, the assault underscores the chronic security vacuum in rural Kaduna — even as a building collapse traps students in Anambra the same night.
Key Takeaways
More than 30 people , including children, were killed in a gunmen attack on Naridon community , Kauru Local Government Area , Kaduna State , late Sunday night .
The attack began around 11:00 pm local time ; gunmen opened fire and set houses and shops ablaze.
The death toll is expected to rise as several injured remain in critical condition.
Local police had not commented on the incident or the motive as of Monday.
Separately, a three-storey building — the Elite Five Star Lodge — collapsed in Anambra State , trapping dozens of students from Federal Polytechnic Oko .
Kaduna State has a history of repeated violent attacks and communal clashes in recent years.
More than 30 people, including children, were killed after unidentified gunmen launched a deadly assault on the Naridon community in the Kauru Local Government Area of Nigeria's northern Kaduna State late Sunday night, local media reported on Monday, 28 July 2025. The death toll is feared to rise as several of the injured remain in critical condition.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to Nigeria's national daily The Punch Newspapers, citing community leaders, the assault began at approximately 11:00 pm local time (2200 GMT) on Sunday. The gunmen reportedly surrounded the remote settlement and opened fire indiscriminately, simultaneously setting houses and shops ablaze.
Dogon Rana, a local resident whose home was destroyed in the attack, told reporters that the gunmen encircled the community before striking without warning. Many residents sustained injuries of varying severity in the violence.
Motive and Police Response
The motive for the attack remains unclear. Local police had yet to issue an official statement as of Monday. No group has claimed responsibility for the assault.
Kaduna's Recurring Violence
This is not an isolated incident. Kaduna State has witnessed repeated episodes of violent attacks in recent years, including communal clashes that have claimed hundreds of lives across multiple districts. The state sits at the intersection of Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north and Christian south, a fault line that has historically fuelled intercommunal tension. Critics argue that persistent insecurity in the region reflects a broader failure of both state and federal authorities to deploy adequate security resources to rural communities.
Building Collapse in Anambra Adds to Nigeria's Crisis
Separately, in Nigeria's southern Anambra State, dozens of people are feared trapped after a three-storey building collapsed late Sunday. The structure, known as the Elite Five Star Lodge, primarily accommodates students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, which is currently in the second semester of its 2025/2026 academic session.
Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesman for the Anambra State Police, confirmed that several injured individuals had been rescued from the rubble and that emergency responders were intensifying efforts on Monday to locate those still believed to be trapped beneath the debris. Local sources noted the building was typically overcrowded with students.
What Comes Next
Rescue operations at the Anambra collapse site were continuing as of Monday, while security forces in Kaduna face mounting pressure to investigate the Naridon attack and prevent further reprisals. With the death toll from both incidents still fluid, the coming hours will be critical for survivors and their families.
Point of View
Yet the state's security response remains reactive rather than preventive. The fact that police had issued no statement by Monday morning — hours after more than 30 people were killed — speaks to a systemic gap in crisis communication and accountability. Nigeria's federal government faces a compounding credibility problem: with insecurity flaring simultaneously in the north and a structural disaster killing students in the south, the narrative of a state capable of protecting its citizens is under severe strain. The Anambra building collapse, involving a lodge that was reportedly chronically overcrowded with students, also raises pointed questions about building safety enforcement near educational institutions.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Kaduna, Nigeria on Sunday night?
Unidentified gunmen attacked the Naridon community in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State late Sunday, killing more than 30 people including children and setting homes and shops on fire. The attack began at approximately 11:00 pm local time, according to community leaders cited by The Punch Newspapers.
What is the motive behind the Kaduna attack?
The motive remains unclear as of Monday. Local police had not issued any official statement, and no group had claimed responsibility for the assault.
Why is Kaduna State frequently targeted by violence?
Kaduna State has a long history of communal clashes and armed attacks, rooted partly in its position at the fault line between Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north and Christian south. Chronic under-policing of rural areas has made communities like Naridon particularly vulnerable to armed groups.
What happened at the Elite Five Star Lodge in Anambra?
A three-storey building known as the Elite Five Star Lodge collapsed in Anambra State late Sunday. The building mainly housed students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, which is in its 2025/2026 academic session. Rescue operations were ongoing Monday, with dozens feared still trapped.
What is the current status of rescue operations?
Emergency responders in Anambra were continuing rescue efforts on Monday, with several injured already pulled from the rubble. In Kaduna, security forces were yet to publicly respond to the Naridon attack as of Monday morning.
