At least 13 persons have been killed and several others abducted following a late-night attack by bandits on a wedding ceremony in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The incident, which occurred around 11:47 p.m. on Sunday, threw the community into chaos as heavily armed assailants reportedly stormed the venue in large numbers, opening fire indiscriminately on guests.

A resident, Shehu Bala, who spoke by telephone on Monday, said the attackers, wielding AK-47 rifles, invaded the wedding hall and unleashed sustained gunfire, leaving many dead and others with varying degrees of injuries.

According to him, several of the injured victims were rushed to the Kagarko General Hospital for treatment, while two critically wounded persons were referred to a medical facility in Kaduna for advanced care.

He added that the number of those abducted remains unclear due to the confusion caused by the attack. “Some of my friends who were inside the hall sustained gunshot injuries,” he said.

A community leader, who also confirmed the incident, listed some of the victims to include Bako Danjuma, Williams Luka, Peter Williams, Joseph Yakubu, Victor Peter, John Dan Asabe, Angulu Markus, Maikano Aribi, Douglas John, Ado Yakubu, Zaphaniah Alhaji, Joseph Kaddah and Francis Unguwa Doya.

The attackers were said to have operated for nearly an hour without resistance, during which they also looted shops, carting away food items, provisions and drugs from a local chemist.

The community leader noted that the victims had since been buried, while efforts to establish contact with the abductors were yet to yield results.

He described the situation as terrifying, saying many residents fled into nearby bushes to escape the gunfire, which created widespread panic across the area.

A police source in Kagarko confirmed the attack, including the abductions, but said authorities were still working to determine the exact number of persons taken.

The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, also confirmed the incident, noting that a detailed report would be released after preliminary investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, the state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, alongside Senator Sani Musa, reportedly visited the injured victims receiving treatment at the hospital in Kagarko.

The attack adds to growing security concerns in the area, as several communities, including Janjala, have reportedly been under persistent threat from bandit activities in recent weeks.

Residents disclosed that at least 14 persons, including a vigilante operative and his wife, who were abducted three weeks ago, are still being held captive by the assailants.