Nigeria’s media has remained largely silent on the tragic killing of five Christian youths during an armed herdsmen attack in Bundu-Kahugu, Lere County, Southern Kaduna, last Friday night, a TruthNigeria survey reveals.
The victims, all volunteer vigilantes, lost their lives defending the community. Four were killed during the encounter, and another succumbed to injuries in hospital on Sunday. Six others sustained critical injuries.
The attack occurred during an open-air wedding around 11:45 pm on Friday, December 19, 2025. Armed Fulani herdsmen struck the town from four sides. Bundu-Kahugu, a Christian town with around 2,000 homes, a small police post, a bank, two primary schools, and a high school, has increasingly relied on youth vigilantes following repeated attacks in neighboring communities.
According to Ishaya Ephraim, Secretary of the Kahugu Development Association, the young volunteers, armed with small handmade guns and machetes, engaged the attackers for over an hour, allowing women, children, and the elderly to escape. Despite being heavily outgunned, the vigilantes prevented kidnappings and arson. Calls for military assistance from a post four kilometers away reportedly went unanswered during the attack.
Daniel Yahaya, whose younger brother was among the slain, praised the bravery of the youths, saying their knowledge of the town and sheer numbers helped repel the attackers. “I lost my brother, and I am so angry and sad. But he died saving his town, and I am proud of him,” he said.
The casualties are: Welas Yahaya, 25; Apollos Emmanuel, 19; Ignition Sunday, 15; Nehemiah Jonathan, 20; and Samuel Yusuf, 23. The critically injured include Andrew Soba, 45; Pius Aminu, 22; Francis Danzaria, 30; Nabal Gagare, 32; Cornelius Emmanuel, 21; and Saidu Yakubu, 26. They are receiving treatment in Saminaka and Jos, Plateau State.
The following day, the Nigerian military visited the village, commending the courage and resilience of the youth. According to a local source, a young Major praised the vigilantes’ bravery, promised to recruit more volunteers, and intended to use the community as a model for others. The commander also acknowledged the military’s failure to respond during the attack.
Hon. Jonathan Asake, former President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), criticized the media’s silence, alleging that attacks on Christian communities in Southern Kaduna are consistently underreported.
