The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan held a mass funeral on Saturday for 27 of the 30 individuals murdered during a raid on Naridon, a village located in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. While three victims were laid to rest prior to the event, the service brought together bereaved relatives, church officials, and members of the community.
The tragedy unfolded last Sunday at approximately 11 p.m. when suspected terrorists stormed the farming village near the Kaduna-Plateau border. The assailants shot residents, destroyed multiple homes with fire, and kidnapped several others. Most Rev. Julius Yakubu Kundi, the Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan, oversaw the somber proceedings. He ordered the 27 coffins to be displayed in a single row to serve as a stark reminder of the massive loss of life and the failure of national security efforts.
Bishop Kundi expressed deep sorrow for the families, noting that these innocent people should still be alive. The massacre has highlighted persistent safety issues along the regional border, where armed groups frequently target civilians. In response to the violence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu labeled the act as abhorrent and instructed security forces to track down the perpetrators. To date, no arrests have been reported by authorities.
