Gunmen kill 15, injure 9 in Kaduna reprisal attack

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By Ismail Auwal

At least 25 people were killed in a spate of attacks in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna Central Senatorial District.

Sahelian Times gathered that these killings happened at Kaya, a boundary community with Hayin Kaura village of Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A statement signed by Kaduna State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said that the violence began on 1st January, 2021 when armed bandits attacked Kaya town and kidnapped some locals including two married women.

“The bandits were fiercely pursued by a combined team of volunteers from Kaya, and Hayin Kaura village of Katsina State, in keeping with their practice of supporting security efforts in their respective communities,” Aruwan stated.

Mr. Aruwan said, “The bandits in the course of the confrontation kidnapped and killed one Shamsu Umar, a leader of the Kaya volunteers. His corpse was found on 2nd January, 2021, after a search operation in the forest.”

On the same day, in an apparent retaliation for the killing of Shamsu Umar, unidentified persons came across some herders and killed four of them.

This killing provoked reprisal attack from fulanis, who were sighted around 6:30 pm yesterday (2nd January 2021) with over 50 motorcycles, each carrying three men with AK-47 rifles, entering Kaya town in Giwa Local Government, where they “began shooting sporadically.”

“Soldiers and police operatives were quickly deployed to the location, along with an air platform of the Nigerian Air Force,” Aruwan’s statement added.

According to Aruwan, “Three unidentified corpses were recovered, said to be drivers in transit from Funtua, Katsina State.”

He further added that, “After the attack, security agencies confirmed that several shops, five vehicles, and some motorcycles were burnt by the attackers.”

Kaduna State Government has also said it is in possession of highly disturbing images of casualties sustained in the killing and counter-killing, which cannot be made public for ethical considerations.

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