By Palang Paul
At least nine Christians including young children, were killed and eleven others wounded Tuesday night when Fulani terrorists stormed the Angwan Magaji community in Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in a deadly night-time raid that has deepened fears over the worsening persecution of Christian communities across Southern Kaduna and Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
The attack occurred late on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, when heavily armed assailants stormed the rural Irigwe community, opening fire on residents and leaving a trail of death and destruction.
Initial reports indicated a lower casualty figure, but search and recovery operations conducted on Wednesday uncovered additional bodies, bringing the death toll to nine.
The victims have been identified as Jerry Doctor, Danlami Magani, Sunday Chibi, Rita Abdullahi, Sunday Elkan, Esther Kefas, Happy Friday, Moses Daddy and Daddy Ibrahim.
Eleven others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment. They include Halla Monday, Mary Yohanna, Jummai John, Charity Danjuma, Faith Yakubu, Omi Yakubu, Ali Sandiye, Asabe Victor, Srarina Simon, Talatu Sunday and ThankGod Danladi.
Speaking on the incident, spokesperson of the Irigwe Youth Movement (IYM), Joseph Yonkpa, confirmed the attack and described it as another devastating blow to communities that have endured years of recurring violence.
Human rights organization Amnesty International condemned the killings, describing the attack as one of the deadliest recent assaults in Southern Kaduna.
According to Amnesty International, two of the victims were children aged five and four years old. The organization also disclosed that several residents remain unaccounted for, with search efforts continuing.
Amnesty expressed deep concern over what it described as the persistent insecurity across Southern Kaduna, where communities continue to face repeated attacks, abductions and killings with little accountability for perpetrators.
“The authorities have repeatedly failed to end the violence and ensure justice for victims,” the organization said, warning that the continued attacks pose a grave threat to the right to life and security of residents.
Residents of the community have lamented what they describe as a pattern of neglect, noting that many attacks in Southern Kaduna receive limited attention despite the scale of human suffering involved.
The latest massacre has once again renewed calls on federal and state authorities to strengthen security in vulnerable communities, apprehend those responsible, and prevent further bloodshed in a region that has witnessed years of deadly violence.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not issued a detailed statement on the attack, while efforts to locate missing residents remained ongoing.
Palang Paul reports on Security and Conflict for The Nigeria Times.
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