Some bandits on motorcycles have invaded Kaya Village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State and killed no fewer than 19 persons, including the leader of the volunteer team in the area.
Over nine persons sustained gunshot wounds in the incident that started from New Year’s day (Friday) to Saturday night.
Several houses, shops as well as motorcycles were burnt during the reprisal attack by the bandits.
The Kaya village in Kaduna Central Senatorial District shared a border with Hayin Kaura village of Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the attack on Sunday, said trouble started on New Year’s day when bandits attacked Kaya town and kidnapped some locals, including two married women.
Aruwan explained that the bandits were fiercely pursued by a combined team of volunteers from Kaya and from Hayin Kaura village of Katsina State in keeping with their practice of supporting security efforts in their respective communities.
However, he added that the bandits in the course of the confrontation, kidnapped and killed one Shamsu Umar, a leader of the Kaya volunteers.
According to him, the corpse of Umar was found on Saturday after a search operation in the forest.
Aruwan continued that on the same day, some persons came across some herders, “and in apparent retaliation for the killing of Shamsu Umar, killed four of them.”
The commissioner in a statement titled, ‘Several lives lost in Giwa LGA killings and counter-killings,’ listed the four killed as Musa Lawal, Ibrahim Sani, and Haruna Umar as well as Idi Isah.
He added that more than 50 bandits on motorcycles, each carrying three passengers and wielding Ak-47 rifles stormed Kaya, shooting indiscriminately and killed over 10 locals while scores sustained varying degrees of injuries from gunshots.
The commissioner identified those killed as Hudu Shafiu, Madaro Madaki, Ibrahim Hamida, Ibrahim Mohammed Maidoya, Kabiru Maitakalmi, Ibrahim Kayawa, Danladi Daiyabu, Zubairu Mailemu, Awwalu Yahaya and Audu Sarkar as well as Mah arazu Adamu.
He also said three unidentified corpses were also recovered. They were said “to be drivers in transit from Funtua, Katsina State.”
While saying that those who sustained gunshots wounds were receiving treatment at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, the commissioner listed their names as “Mujahideen Muhammad, Suleiman, Mustapha Bashir, Ibrahim Sulaiman, Nuhu Idris, Alkassim Ismail, Nafi’u Sirajo, Musa Magaji, Muhammad Salisu Kaya and Musa Ibrahim.”
Aruwan also said the government was in possession of highly-disturbing images after the attacks.
“After the attack, security agencies confirmed that several shops, five vehicles and some motorcycles were burnt by the attackers.
“Aside from the images attached to this security update, the Kaduna State Government is in possession of other highly disturbing images of casualties sustained in the killing and counter-killing, which cannot be made public for ethical considerations,” he said.
He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai who was involved in coordinating responses to the attack on Saturday night, condoled the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of their souls.
“As he has repeatedly done, the Governor appealed earnestly for recourse to the law as the main solution to the violence, killings, and counter-killings by aggrieved groups and Individuals.
“The Governor expressed deep concern, and tasked security agencies to carry out extensive investigations into the circumstances leading to the killings,” the commissioner added.
