Ten people were killed and many others injured in an attack by gunmen in Zangon Kataf and Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
The incident happened around 8:00 pm.
- A month after Oyo Fulani eviction: Sarkin Fulani, Asigangan of Igangan quibble over compensation
Gunmen slit throats of father, 2 sons in Zamfara community
A source told Daily Trust that the attackers who came in large numbers killed the villagers.
The Chairman Atyap Chiefdom Peace and Security Partnership Committee, Mr John Bala Goara said the attackers came in large numbers at night attacking the villagers with machetes and knives.
He said the injured have been taken to Zonkwa General Hospital for treatment.
He added that many are still missing as they ran into the bush for safety, and the total number of casualties is yet to be ascertained.
In Zangon Kataf, five persons killed include Ishaya Aboi, Regina Ishaya, Goodluck Dauda, Joseph Adamu and Hassan Joseph, while 10 houses, two motorcycles and 50 bags of ginger were set ablaze.
Some dry season farmers lost water pumping machines and other valuables around the Zango Urban general area.
Some survivors of the attack are recuperating in the hospital.
Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are in still progress.
Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the military also confirmed the killing of five persons in Sabon Gayan village in Chikun LGA of the state. Those killed in Chikun, said the statement, include; Ashahabu Abubakar, Ado Rilwanu, Sabo Iliya, Mannaseh Matthias Danjuma and Ayuba Waziri, from Ungwan Turai, Chikun LGA.
“As of the time of this update, troops of Operation Thunder Strike are combing identified criminal hideouts in the Sabon Gayan area, following reports that several bandits sustained bullet wounds,” he said.
Similarly, 12 persons lost their lives while attempting to rescue an abductee at Illela Amarawa in Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Monday.
Daily Trust learnt that the gunmen suspected to be bandits came to the area around 2am and picked up Alhaji Rabi’u Amarawa, a popular businessman.
Some members of his family were said to have alerted the vigilantes who mobilised and chased the bandits in a bid to rescue the abductee.
The bandits had opened fire on them, resulting in the death of 12 persons, including the brother of the businessman.
“The kidnapped businessman is my uncle and two of my cousins were killed during the fight. We just buried ten persons,” a resident, who craved anonymity, told Daily Trust.
“They only came straight to his house and picked him as if he was their only target. The area which is less than a kilometre to the Illela town is now calm and quiet because we are in a mourning mood.”
The spokesman of the Sokoto Police Command, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, while confirming the incident, said there was heavy casualty because residents did not involve the police before going after the gunmen.
He, however, said investigation was ongoing, adding that they had deployed five units, each comprising 63 well armed policemen to areas prone to banditry in the state.
“We just launched Operation Puff Ader II and the state government has given us 15 operation vehicles out of the 80 the governor promised us and all were deployed to those areas.
“And we sent five units and each unit comprises 63 policemen to protect those communities,” Abubakar said.
From Ahmed Ali (Kafanchan) & Abubakar Auwal (Sokoto)
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
