A deadly terrorist assault has claimed seven lives in Southern Kaduna, raising fresh doubts about the effectiveness of the peace pact between the Kaduna State government and bandit leaders in northern Nigeria. Reports have it that heavily armed men stormed Angwan Rimi in Kauru Local Government late Sunday night into early Monday, targeting mostly children and women.

Mr. Iliya Tata, Public Relations Officer of the Irigwe Development Association, confirmed the tragedy and revealed that the attackers left eight others critically injured. The victims, according to community leaders, included minors as young as one year old. The Irigwe association condemned the brutal killings and urged security agencies to act swiftly while also advising communities to take measures to protect themselves.

The names of the dead were released, including Jacob Zaka, 12; Magret Mathias, 5; Delight Paul, 1; Sati Markus, 9; Confidence Yakubu, 15; Veronica Paul, 25; Matthew Sunday, 14; and Felicia Francis, 15. The wounded, many of them children, remain in critical condition, intensifying calls for urgent medical and security intervention. Community leaders appealed for calm, urging the public to trust that authorities would restore safety and justice.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government has been promoting its “Kaduna Model” peace initiative, designed to address both the causes and effects of banditry. The program has seen notorious warlords such as Yellow Jambros and Dogo Gide lay down their arms, with over 200 fighters reportedly surrendering and entering rehabilitation schemes. The government has touted the reopening of once-dangerous highways and the return of displaced villagers as early signs of progress.

Yet, critics remain skeptical. Christian leaders and civil society groups have condemned the peace deal for sidelining victims and lacking transparency. The Northwest Governors Forum had earlier rejected negotiations with criminal groups, making Kaduna’s decision a controversial outlier. Governor Uba Sani defended the pact as a “carrot-and-stick” approach, insisting that lasting peace can only be achieved from a position of strength.

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