The Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese in central Nigeria, Most Rev. Julius Kundi, has strongly condemned the brutal killing of 27 people and the injuring of 3 others in Naridon Village, Kamuru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In his homily at an open-air requiem Mass, he described the incident as blatant criminality and a clear sign of the absence of the rule of law.
Mourners at the mass grave.
“This has nothing to do with revenge. This has nothing to do with reprisal at all. This is criminality,” Bishop Kundi stated.
According to him, “such criminality can only happen to a country that does not respect the rule of law.”
The funeral drew grieving families and community members together, as the victims’ caskets were lined up in front of the mourners.
Caskets of the victims who were murdered in cold blood.
“I deliberately asked for the coffins to be lined up like this, so it will be evidence for us and all of Nigeria that we failed to protect them. They should not have died now,” Bishop Kundi said.
Bishop Kundi expressed heartfelt sympathy to families who lost loved ones, especially parents who had to bury their children and breadwinners, praying for God to give them the strength to endure the painful loss.
Urging residents not to lose hope despite the repeated attacks, he called on the government and security agencies to take stronger action to end the ongoing assaults on rural communities in Southern Kaduna.
Families of victims, left in shock to mourn their loses.
Locals told Advocatus Africa they were disappointed by the absence of government officials or representatives from the governor, senator, House of Representatives, LGA, and ward councillor.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani condemned the killings, calling the attack heinous, unacceptable, and a direct assault on the nation’s peace and security.
No arrests had been made in connection with the massacre at the time of filing this report.
However, Advocatus Africa gathered that efforts to rescue the remaining abducted victims are still underway.
