Bandits strike in Kaduna, kill 23 in less than 24 hours 

Kaduna state government has confirmed the killing of 23 people in five local government areas of Kaduna state in less than 24 hours.

Daily Trust reports that the attacks occurred barely 48 hours after bandits killed 16 people in Kutemeshi village in Birnin Gwari local government area of the state.

While 10 people were killed in a coordinated attack against Unguwar Gajere village in same Birnin Gwari local government area on Monday night, 13 people had lost their lives in attacks targetted at Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kauru local government areas of the state.

Kaduna state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said the attacks had targeted soft targets around local government areas around Kaduna state’s boundaries with neighbouring states.

He said while 10 people had been killed in Unguwan Gajere and three injured, 13 others had been killed in Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru LGAs.

Aruwan stated that: “In Igabi local government area, bandits shot dead one Dayyabu Yahuza between Sarkin Baka and Dankyawai village, near Gidan Kurmi. In Giwa local government area, armed bandits invaded Janbaba village, one Yakubu Sule was shot dead. In Kishisho village, Kauru local government area, gunmen suspected to be from a neighboring state killed five persons.”

He further stated: “In Chikun local government area, five citizens were killed by bandits in Gwagwada-Kasaya village in Kunai ward. And similarly, in Agwa, Chikun LGA, one Bitrus Joseph was shot dead in an attack by bandits.”

The commissioner said one of the bandits was killed near Bugai, in Chikun local government area when members of the community repelled an attack.

He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai had sent condolences to the families that lost their loved ones and offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the slain and a speedy recovery for the injured.

Aruwan said air platforms of the Nigerian Air Force were trailing and engaging bandits in some locations in Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Igabi LGAs at the time of releasing the security update.

Kaduna state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige had earlier said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Muri was on his way to the community but later in the evening, Jalige could not be reached for further comments.

Villagers however told Daily Trust that the Commissioner was yet to visit the area at the time of filing this report.