A burial ceremony in Angwar Magaji village, Kaduna State, ended in tragedy on Wednesday after suspected armed Fulani bandits attacked mourners, killing two people and injuring three others.
According to residents, the incident occurred in the early hours of the day as members of the community gathered to bury a deceased villager.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the area in large numbers and opened fire indiscriminately, causing panic as mourners fled for safety.
“It was supposed to be a moment of mourning and unity, but it turned into a nightmare,” a resident lamented.
Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, first reported the attack on his X handle, citing security sources.
According to the sources, the gunmen operated for several minutes before escaping through nearby bush paths.
The attack reportedly left two villagers dead on the spot, while three others sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
The injured victims were evacuated to the Primary Health Care Centre in Barkin Kogi, where they are currently receiving medical attention.
Troops operating under Operation Enduring Peace were said to have responded swiftly after receiving a distress call from the community.
Although the attackers had fled before the arrival of security personnel, the troops secured the area, assisted in evacuation efforts and launched a search operation.
Security authorities disclosed that a manhunt has commenced to track down the perpetrators, while surveillance has been intensified across neighbouring communities.
The latest attack adds to a series of violent incidents recorded in rural parts of Kaduna State in recent months, where armed groups have continued to target communities despite ongoing security operations.
Residents of Angwar Magaji have called on authorities to strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities to prevent future attacks.
“Burial ceremonies are sacred to us. For them to attack us while we were mourning our dead shows how unsafe we are,” a community member said.
