No fewer than 29 persons, including a policemen were Tuesday killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen at communities in Kajuru and Kachia local government areas of Kaduna State, in an apparent reprisal attack, following killings in the area two weeks ago.
Sources in the communities as well as military men deployed to the area after the attack, said among the dead was a policeman and 26 others, while two police inspectors have also been declared missing.
It was gathered that the 29 bodies have been recovered by security men deployed to the area
The four communities which suffered the attack include Karamai, Gidan Gajere, Gidan Auta and Chibiya, all under Maro, a border town between Kajuru and Kachia local government areas.
It was gathered that as soon as news of the attack filtered into the state capital, a combined team of security agencies were deployed to the place and were able to go into the villages where the bodies were recovered.
Most of the bodies, it was gathered, were found mainly in Karamai and Gidan Auta villages.
It was learnt from another source that over 40 houses were burnt in the affected communities.
Another source in the village said the armed men numbered more than 400 and attacked the village very early with different weapons.
A resident of the area, Paulina Irimiya, said the attack occurred around 6.30a.m, alleging that the attacks were carried out by herdsmen.
She said she was in church with other villagers when they heard gunshots, prompting them to take to their heels.
According to her, the attackers razed the whole village and also pursued some villagers into the bush, shooting at them.
She, however, could not confirm the casualty figures, saying some of her family members were missing.
‘’It all started while we were in the church during women’s fellowship in ECWA Church when we heard gun shots and we all went out.
‘’As we all went out, we saw some of the houses being burnt by the attackers and some of the attackers were chasing people into the bush to kill them.
‘’I do not know the whereabouts of my family members. I am on my way to another village that is close to ours.”
She said the situation was partially brought under control when soldiers arrived.
Another villager who simply identified herself as Rachael, said at least six people were dead by her count.
She said some herders stormed the village in the early hours of Tuesday in search of their lost cows but later, things took another turn when they started shooting at people.
‘’Many houses were burnt, including the church where women where having their fellowship. As I am talking to you right now, I have lost my uncle and my grandfather and I have counted four other corpses,” a dejected Rachael said.
The National President, Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union, Solomon Musa, said, said the latest attack claimed a whole village.
“What I’ve been told from several sources is that the whole village has been destroyed,” he said.
Mr. Musa could not state the casualty figure as information he should have got from village heads came from other sources. This, he said, was due to the arrest of heads of villages in the area.
Reacting to the latest attack in a statement issued by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said Governor Nasir el-Rufai was saddened by the news of renewed attacks in the area.
“Today, the Kaduna State government was briefed by security agencies of renewed attacks in Kajuru local government area, and in parts of neighboring Kachia LGA.
“The Kaduna State government has been assured that the security agencies are working assiduously to contain the situation.
“The government is saddened by these attacks, condemns the perpetrators and urges all residents of the area to support the security agencies in their efforts to protect communities,” the statement read
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday met behind closed doors with Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the fresh killing in the state.
Recall that Governor el-Rufai was among the three Northern governors that attended security meeting with service chiefs and heads of security agencies at the State House before the February 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections to discuss security situation in the region.
Also at the security meeting was the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who had dared the Boko Haram terrorist group in the state that he would move into their areas of operation without bullet proof.
Although the Kaduna State governor after the meeting with President Buhari Tuesday left through the Admin Officer’s gate without a word to journalists that had waited for him, the visit coincided with the day there was another attack in two Kaduna local government areas of Kajuru and Kachia
Kajuru was attacked few weeks ago and Governor el-Rufai while briefing State House correspondents claimed that the number of casualty rose from the initial 66 persons to 130 people.
The governor who was joined by the Kaduna State Police Commissioner alleged that the dead people were of Fulani tribe.
