*Gunmen kill six villagers, abduct five in fresh attacks
John Shiklam in Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has appealed for continuous aggressive military operations against bandits in the state following attacks in Igabi and Kauru Local Government Areas (LGAs), which left some citizens dead and others kidnapped.
This is coming as six people were killed while five others were abducted in an attack by bandits on the Kwasam community, Kauru LGA of the state.
A resident of the community who pleaded anonymity said in a telephone interview yesterday that the incident happened a few minutes after 10 p.m. on Friday.
He said the bandits came in large numbers and were armed with sophisticated weapons.
According to him, on arrival, the bandits abducted two people, who at gunpoint, led them to the residence of one Mr. Zakariya Markus, a retired director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), his younger brother, and his wife.
He said as the bandits were leaving the community with the five abducted persons, residents rushed out in an attempt to rescue them; however, the bandits started shooting sporadically at them and in the process, six people were killed while two others were injured.
He said: “The village came under attack by Fulani men a few minutes after 10 pm on Friday. When they came, they picked two people, who at gunpoint, led them to the residences of Mr. Zakariya Markus, a prominent man in the community, who happened to be a retired director of the CBN and kidnapped him.
“After picking him up, they moved to their family house and picked up his younger brother, Mr. Monday Markus, and his wife.
“So five people were kidnapped, but as the kidnappers were leaving the community with them, residents rushed out to pursue the criminals in an attempt to rescue the victims.
“But the bandits were shooting sporadically at them and in the process, six people were killed while two others were injured”.
According to him, those killed, include Danmasani Gwaska, Mrs. Giwa John, Kapishi Barmu, Ganya Ubangida, Shigama Salisu, and Gani Magawata.
The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached when contacted as his telephone was not connecting.
But reacting to the killings, Governor Uba expressed condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in the attacks.
The governor spoke through the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, during an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in the affected areas in the company of the Garrison Commander, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Muhammad Kana, alongside other military commanders and security forces working in the general areas.
“We are here on behalf of Governor Uba Sani to first of all condole with you over the lives lost in Kerawa and Sabon Birni Wards in Igabi LGA and also Kwassam, Kurera, and Kan Makama communities in Kauru LGA.
“May Almighty God grant the deceased eternal rest, and grant a speedy recovery to the injured.
“I want to assure you that we are also here for an assessment of the security situation and as you can see, troops are presently carrying out operations in these locations, to which you have attested.
“The Governor of Kaduna State is not relenting in his efforts, and he is also working towards sustained aggressive military operations in the frontline locations and emerging fronts like Kauru LGA”, Aruwan told residents of the affected communities during the visit.
The delegation also held meetings with traditional leaders, led by the Acting District Head of Sabon Birni, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, as well as religious and community leaders drawn from Dunki, Gwada, Bina, Maraci, Tami, Karshi, and Kerawa, where issues critical to the improvement of the security situation were discussed.
The team is also scheduled to visit, Kajuru and Kauru LGAs.
