Kaduna State Government on Sunday confirmed killings and counter-killings in Giwa local government area of Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
The State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the military and other security agencies informed Kaduna State Government that several lives were lost in a series of killings and counter-killings.
He said the killings and counter-killings occurred at Kaya community, which shares a boundary with Hayin Kaura village of Dandume local government area of Katsina State.
Aruwan said the security brief showed that the violence began on the 1st of January, 2021 when bandits attacked Kaya town and kidnapped some locals including two married women.
He further stated that 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 efforts in their respective communities.
Aruwan said the bandits, in the course of the confrontation, kidnapped and killed one Shamsu Umar, a leader of the Kaya volunteers.
Aruwan said his corpse was found on the 2nd of January 2021 after a search operation in the forest.
He said 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, including Musa Lawal, Ibrahim Sani, Haruna Umar and Idi Isah.
Aruwan said about 6:30pm on Saturday, 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.
Aruwan said troops of the Nigerian Army and police operatives were quickly deployed in the location, along with an air platform of the Nigerian Air Force and sadly, the following locals Hudu Shafiu, Madaro Madaki
Ibrahim Hamida, Ibrahim Mohammed Maidoya, Kabiru Maitakalmi , Ibrahim Kayawa, Danladi Daiyabu, Zubairu Mailemu, Awwalu Yahaya, Audu Sarkar, Maharazu Adamu were killed.
He said three unidentified corpses were also recovered, pointing out that they were said to be drivers in transit from from Funtua, Katsina State.
Aruwan said Mujahideen Muhammad, Suleiman Mustapha Bashir, Ibrahim Sulaiman, Nuhu Idris, Alkassim Ismail, Nafi’u Sirajo, Musa Magaji, Muhammad Salisu Kaya, Musa Ibrahim sustained bullet wounds and were receiving medical attention at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Shika, Zaria.
Aruwan said after the attack, security agencies confirmed that several shops, five vehicles and some motorcycles were burnt by the attackers.
He said Kaduna State Government was in possession of other highly-disturbing images of casualties sustained in the killing and counter-killing, “which cannot be made public for ethical considerations.”
Aruwan said Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai who was involved in coordinating responses to the attack on Saturday night, condoled with the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of their souls.
The Governor also appealed earnestly for recourse to the law as the main solution to the violence, killings and counter-killings by aggrieved groups and Individuals.
He expressed deep concern, and tasked security agencies to carry out extensive investigations into the circumstances leading to the killings.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
