A violent attack hit a community in southern Kaduna: bandits struck Damakasuwa, Kauru Local Government Area, on the morning of 1 November 2025, killing five residents and leaving many others with serious injuries. Sources told SaharaReporters that the assailants rode in, shooting sporadically and hacking victims to death, including minors, and the bodies of the dead were recovered at the scene. The assault began around 8 a.m., with gunfire and chaos forcing residents to flee into the forest, and the exact casualty count remains uncertain because the attackers also abducted people and stole livestock.
The attackers, locally called “bandits,” moved through the village on motorcycles, firing indiscriminately and causing grave injuries. A local source said the bandits “cycled the community shooting sporadically before hacking to death those found on sight,” and several of the wounded are in critical condition. The violence has heightened fears of a pattern of kidnappings and cattle rustling that has plagued the area for months, with similar recent raids in nearby villages such as Bukkah and Nissi, where dozens were also abducted.
Security forces have taken control of the area to restore peace, but the difficult terrain and fear of ambush have hampered a swift response. APC chieftain Engineer Joseph Ciroma condemned the “heinous” act, urging the government to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice, while local leaders expressed frustration that many of these attacks go under‑reported. The incident underscores the continuing insecurity in southern Kaduna, where bandit groups continue to strike with apparent impunity.
The attack is part of a broader wave of violence in Kaduna, with recent weeks seeing multiple kidnappings, killings and church assaults, prompting calls for stronger protection of civilians and more robust action from authorities. Community members are left grieving and fearful, and the government is being pressed to improve security and address the root causes of the banditry.
