Suspected bandits on Saturday night killed about 14 villagers in Kaya, a village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, when they attacked the community.
The incident happened around 6:30 p.m. when the bandits, said to be on a revenge mission, stormed the small village killing the victims and setting vehicles ablaze.
A resident of the community, who simply identified himself as Suleiman, said nine people sustained injuries.
According to him, earlier on Friday, some vigilantes in the community killed some of the bandits who attacked a neighbouring village.
â€The bandits attacked our village in revenge of the killings of their members by our vigilante after abducting and killing one person on 1 and 2 January. So they returned in the night on Saturday in large number on motorcycles and killed 14 people,†he said.
Kaduna Govt confirms killings
This was confirmed by the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs in the state, Mr. Samuel Aruwan.
Aruwan in a statement said, “the military and other security agencies informed the Kaduna State Government that several lives were lost in a series of killings and counter-killings in Giwa local government area of Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
The statement further added that “the killing and counter-killing occurred at Kaya community, which shares a boundary with Hayin Kaura village of Dandume local government area of Katsina State.
“According to the security brief, the violence began on the 1st of 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 from Hayin Kaura village of Katsina State, in keeping with their practice of supporting security agencies in their respective communities.
“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 the 2nd of January 2021 after a search operation in the forest.
“On the same day as the recovery of the corpse, unidentified persons came across some herders, and in apparent retaliation for the killing of Shamsu Umar, killed four of them, listed as follows:
Musa Lawal, Ibrahim Sani, Haruna Umar and Idi Isah.
“At around 6:30pm yesterday, 2nd January 2021, over 50 motorcycles each carrying three-men wielding AK-47 rifles, stormed Kaya town in Giwa local government and began shooting sporadically. The statement said.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army and police operatives were quickly deployed to the location, along with an air platform of the Nigerian Air
The Kaduna State government on Sunday confirmed that suspected gunmen killed scores of people in Giwa Local Government Area of the state.
This was confirmed by the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs in the state, Mr. Samuel Aruwan.
Aruwan in a statement said, “the military and other security agencies informed the Kaduna State Government that several lives were lost in a series of killings and counter-killings in Giwa local government area of Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
The statement further added that “the killing and counter-killing occurred at Kaya community, which shares a boundary with Hayin Kaura village of Dandume local government area of Katsina State.
“According to the security brief, the violence began on the 1st of 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 from Hayin Kaura village of Katsina State, in keeping with their practice of supporting security agencies in their respective communities.
“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 the 2nd of January 2021 after a search operation in the forest.
“On the same day as the recovery of the corpse, unidentified persons came across some herders, and in apparent retaliation for the killing of Shamsu Umar, killed four of them, listed as follows:
Musa Lawal, Ibrahim Sani, Haruna Umar and Idi Isah.
“At around 6:30pm yesterday, 2nd January 2021, over 50 motorcycles each carrying three-men wielding AK-47 rifles, stormed Kaya town in Giwa local government and began shooting sporadically. The statement said.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army and police operatives were quickly deployed to the location, along with an air platform of the Nigerian Air Force.
Sadly, the following locals were killed: “Hudu Shafiu, Madaro Madaki, Ibrahim Hamida, Ibrahim Mohammed Maidoya, Kabiru Maitakalmi, Ibrahim Kayawa, Danladi Daiyabu, Zubairu Mailemu, Awwalu Yahaya, Audu Sarkar and Maharazu Adamu.
“Three unidentified corpses said to be drivers in transit from Funtua, Katsina State were also recovered,
“Similarly, the following persons sustained bullet wounds and are receiving medical attention at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Shika, Zaria:
“Mujahideen Muhammad, Suleiman Mustapha Bashir, Ibrahim Sulaiman, Nuhu Idris, Alkassim Ismail, Nafi’u Sirajo, Musa Magaji, Muhammad Salisu Kaya, Musa Ibrahim
“After the attack, security agencies confirmed that several shops, five vehicles and some motorcycles were burnt by the attackers.
Please Read: Bandits Murder Imam, Community Leader In Kaduna For Condemning Kidnapping, Rustling
“Aside 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.
“The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam 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 statement said.
