US condemns Kaduna attack, urges FG to tackle Middle Belt violence

The United States has condemned the July 26 attack on a village in Kaduna State that killed at least 30 people, including children.

The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs said it would continue to press the Nigerian government to address what it described as rampant violence against Christians in the Middle Belt.

The bureau, in a post on its official X handle on Saturday, described the early morning assault as a tragedy and extended condolences to the families of the victims.

“The United States condemns the early morning July 27 attack on a village in Nigeria’s Kaduna State that reportedly killed at least 30 people, including children. We express our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.

We will continue to urge the Government of Nigeria to address rampant violence against Christians in the Middle Belt,” the bureau said.

The attack occurred at about 11pm on Sunday, not in the early morning as stated by the US agency, when gunmen stormed Naridon village in Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of the state, shooting residents indiscriminately and razing houses and shops.

The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Dogon Rana, told The PUNCH that 30 people, including eight children, had been confirmed dead, with four others in critical condition. He said one family in the community lost five children in a single night, with only one survivor left fighting for his life.

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that 22 members of the Rana family alone were killed and that the attack lasted about three hours without any intervention from security operatives stationed less than two kilometres away.

Governor Uba Sani condemned the killings and directed security agencies to intensify operations to track down the perpetrators. He also ordered the state emergency management agency to provide relief materials to affected families.

The PDP governorship candidate in the state, Usman Bawa, described the attack as an act of barbarity, while the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said the killings showed the Federal Government had failed to protect citizens.

He called for an overhaul of the country’s security architecture.