Kaduna: 125 killed, 60 kidnapped in 82 days
Governor Nasir El-Rufai
•Terrorists rustle cattle
•NAF jets kill fleeing bandits
By Clifford Ndujihe & Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo, Kaduna
AGAIN, terrorists killed nine persons, including four local vigilantes at the Sabon Layi Community, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, yesterday.
This brings to 125 the number of people killed by bandits in the state since January, according to Vanguard’s checks. Also, 60 people have been abducted.
Locals said they saw the terrorists patrolling the affected community on Tuesday, but there were no security operatives to chase them away.
According to a BBC Hausa report, many locals were kidnapped in the area, while livestock belonging to them were rustled by the terrorists.
The Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security said it was still compiling details of the incident, but military jets had since reached the community to forestall further attacks.
NAF jets kill fleeing bandits
Meanwhile, terrorists who attacked a community in Birnin-Gwari were, yesterday, killed by military fighter jets, as they tried to escape.
State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement, explained that “at 9:44am., the ministry received a distress call of armed bandits attacking Sabon Layi village, in Birnin Gwari LGA.
“It was confirmed that the bandits were shooting, rustling cattle, looting property and committing other heinous crimes, a situation which had residents scampering for safety.
“Immediately, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch was contacted for action, and the unit responded promptly to the location.
“On arrival at Sabon Layi, a thorough scan revealed normal human activities at the reported location. However, about four kilometres north of Sabon Layi village, the bandits were sighted fleeing for cover from the aircraft. They were engaged and neutralised in several passes.
“No further movement was observed after the strike. The aircraft sustained its presence overhead before withdrawing.
“While the government awaits a formal report on the initial attack in Sabon Layi village, Governor Nasir el-Rufai has praised the Air Component for the prompt action, and conveyed his gratitude for neutralising the fleeing bandits,” the statement added.
No fewer than 125 were killed, 60 were kidnapped in 82 days
Kaduna State has been a hot bed of killings and kidnapping by bandits of which no fewer than 101 including 12 security operatives and six vigilantes had been killed and 42 people kidnapped between January 1 and March 24, 2023, according to the National Security Tracker, NST.
Vanguard’s checks put the figures at 125 deaths, 82 kidnapped
The figures marked an improvement in the number of deaths and those abducted within the same period in 2022.
The figure excludes those killed or kidnapped between March 24 to April 11.
In the first three months of 2022, no fewer than 287 people were killed, and 356 people kidnapped in Kaduna State.
Timeline of killings, kidnapping in Kaduna since January 2023
Jan 1: Bandits abducted two in Kagarko.
Jan 2-3: Troops killed four bandits in Giwa
Jan 9: Bandits killed 12 security operatives in Birnin-Gwari.
Jan 11: Bandits killed two and abducted four in Igabi.
Jan 14: Police officers killed one bandit in Igabi.
Jan 16: Troops killed two bandits in Chikun.
Jan 17: Jan 18: Six people were killed while several others were injured in an attempt to apprehend kidnappers who abducted two residents of Zonkwa in Zangon Kataf LGA.
Jan 23: Troops killed three bandits in Chikun.
Jan 25: Bandits killed five in Chikun
Feb 3: Gunmen killed two in Lere.
Feb 9: Troops killed four bandits in Birnin-Gwari.
Feb 16: Troops killed seven bandits in Chikun
Feb 19: Bandits abducted two in Giwa, Kaduna.
Feb 22: Troops killed five bandits in Birnin-Gwari.
March 1: Bandits killed one and abducted 23 in Kagarko.
March 3: Troops killed one bandit in Chikun, Kaduna.
March 5: Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes killed three civilians in Giwa.
March 7: Bandits killed six vigilantes in Birnin-Gwari
March 10: Bandits killed one and abducted four in Lere.
March 11: Bandits killed 17 in Zangon Kataf.
March 13: Police officers killed one bandit in Giwa.
March 14: Bandits killed 10 in Zangon Kataf.
March 16: Security operatives killed five Shi’ites in Igabi
March 23: Bandits killed one and abducted three in Kajuru.
Vanguard Media