Twenty-three people on Tuesday lost their lives in bandit attacks in five local government areas of Kaduna State.
It was gathered that the bandits invaded Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru local government area.
The development was confirmed by the Commissioner for Security and Internal Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement released on Tuesday.
Aruwan while speaking on the incident noted that the state government received reports from security agencies that bandits attacked communities in Kaduna, including border areas, leading to the death of 23 people.
The statement read, “Following the security situation across the state within the last 24 hours, the Kaduna state government has received reports from security agencies of the killing of 23 citizens in different attacks on soft targets in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru local government areas.”
“The attacks on soft targets in these local government areas occurred around Kaduna state’s boundaries with neighbouring states.”
“In Birnin Gwari LGA, 10 citizens were killed by bandits in an attack on Ungwan Gajere, Kutemeshi ward. They are: Abdu Hasan, Sufyanu Musa, Faisal Zubairu, Abdullahi Hasan, Ali Abdu, Rabiu Aliyu, Zubairu Yau, Bukar Yusuf, Mamman Ibrahim and Dankande Musa.”
He listed those who sustained injuries as Baushi Alu, Rabe Sani, and Usama Sani.
“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 neighbouring state killed five persons listed as Danlami Sunday, Abbas Abou, Sati Yakubu, Shaba John, and John Francis.”
“In the Chikun local government area, five citizens were killed by bandits in Gwagwada-Kasaya village in Kunai ward. They are Habila Ibrahim, Samaila Audu, John Musa, Birnin Aboki, Ali Aboki.”
“Similarly, in Agwa, Chikun LGA, one Bitrus Joseph was shot dead in an attack by bandits. Also, in Chikun local government area, one bandit was killed near Bugai, when members of the community repelled an attack.”
The state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, expressed sadness over the attacks and sent his condolences to the families of the victims.
In a related development, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said Fulani herdsmen making millions of naira from kidnapping will never repent and leave the forest.
Recall that renowned Islamic scholar, Shiekh Ahmad Gumi, who has been on a tour to various bandits enclave, had called on the government to negotiate and grant amnesty to them.