At least eight persons were killed and four injured in separate banditry attacks in Kajuru and Kachia local government areas of Kaduna State on Tuesday morning.
Daily Trust gathered that armed bandits on Tuesday barricaded the Kaduna-Kachia road near Kasuwan Magani as well as the Doka axis of the road in Kajuru local government area and opened fire on a bus, a firewood truck and another truck.
Witnesses claim at least nine people were killed on the highway and about 28 people abducted but the Kaduna State Government said reports from the military indicate that only six people were killed on the highway and did not mention any abduction.
A statement issued by the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan gave the names of the victims killed around Kudanye as: Alfred Makinde; the driver of the bus, Abdulrahman Dela, Dauda Adamu, Umar Dauda and Abdulrasheed Musa while the drive of a truck was killed near Doka village.
Aruwan further stated that three persons were injured and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital adding that in Kachia LGA, armed bandits invaded a herder’s settlement in Inlowo village and killed one Ibrahim Alhaji Haruna, before carting away 180 cattle.
“At Akilbu village in Kachia LGA, armed bandits shot at a vehicle, injuring two persons, Mansur Ibrahim and Muhammadu Aminu. Mansur Ibrahim later died in hospital while Muhammadu Aminu continues to receive treatment.”
He said security agencies are presently conducting operations at identified locations in the general area.
However, sources from the Nigeria Police Force in Kaduna revealed to Daily Trust that since security agents intensified operations along the Kaduna-Abuja highway in January, bandits had relocated to the Kaduna-Kachia road with frequent attacks on motorists and commuters.
The source said: “Remember that a little over a week ago, eight members of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) were abducted along the highway and there have been others within that period. Also, there are several access routes between the Kaduna-Abuja highway through the forests to the Kaduna-Kachia highway.”
Kaduna State Police Command through the Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige said the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri has directed additional deployment from Mopol 62, Mopol 1 and Operation Puff Adder to intensify patrol along the road.
