30 people killed in Kaduna midnight attack, seven children among dead

At least 30 people, including about seven children, were killed in a midnight attack on Chawai community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State yesterday. Father Mark Bisan, the Parish Priest of St Monica Catholic Church, Ikulu Pari, confirmed the attack to BBC Pidgin. He said the attackers were Fulani armed men who kicked down doors and killed people where they slept.

What is particularly disturbing is that there is an army checkpoint close to the community. Father Bisan said the soldiers should have heard the gunshots. But when community members called them on the phone, they said they were coming but did not arrive until 7am. One family lost about five children. Twenty-eight bodies have been deposited at Zango mortuary, though two families have already buried their dead.

Father Bisan said this is the third attack on their community this year alone. He buried nine parishioners last month. He said after each attack, neither the state government nor the local government speaks to them. The military does not speak to them. The community just buries their dead and continues as if nothing happened. His predecessor was kidnapped two years ago and released, but the person living with him was killed. How many more attacks before someone in authority takes this seriously?