Tragedy in Kaduna as Bandits Storm Wedding Ceremony Killing 13 Guests and Abducting Unspecified Number of Victims

Bandits kill 13 and abduct guests at a wedding in Kahir, Kaduna. Deputy Governor Balarabe visits injured survivors as police begin investigations.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Politics Nigeria

A Lethal Incursion During a Night of Celebration

The peaceful community of Kahir village in the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State was transformed into a site of carnage on Sunday night when bandits launched a coordinated assault on a wedding ceremony. According to local residents, the attack commenced around 11:47 p.m. as guests were gathered inside a local hall. The assailants, described as moving in large numbers and wielding AK 47 rifles, opened fire indiscriminately, targeting men, women, and children who had gathered for the festivities.

The Human Toll and Identification of the Deceased

The scale of the massacre has left the community in a state of profound grief, with 13 individuals confirmed dead following the initial burst of gunfire. A community leader provided the names of those lost, including Bako Danjuma, Williams Luka, Peter Williams, Joseph Yakubu, and several others who were prominent members of the village. Numerous guests sustained severe gunshot wounds during the chaos, with the most critical cases being transferred to Kaduna for specialist medical intervention, while others are currently receiving emergency care at the Kagarko General Hospital.

Systematic Looting and the Abduction Crisis

Witnesses reported that the bandits remained in the village for nearly an hour, during which time they transitioned from the wedding hall to local businesses. The attackers systematically raided shops and a local chemist, making off with significant quantities of foodstuffs, household provisions, and medical supplies. While the killings have been documented, the exact number of individuals taken into captivity remains unknown due to the pandemonium that ensued as guests fled into the surrounding bush to escape the sporadic shootings.