29 killed, 40 houses burnt in fresh Kajuru attack
The police have confirmed the death of 29 persons, including a policeman, in fresh attack in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State Tuesday morning.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmad AbdurRahman, gave the figure yesterday during a news briefing in his office.
Abdur-Rahman added that two policemen were injured in the attack; while 40 houses were burnt.
“Today, in the early hours of the morning, my Divisional Police Officer in Kajuru local government, got an information that unknown gunmen entered Karmai village in Kajuru and started shooting.
“We immediately sent a detachment of mobile policemen to the area, who on entering Karmai and Maro villages also came under fire from the bandits,” he said.
According to him, the attackers went from hamlet to hamlet burning houses and killing people.
“I and the 1 Division Garrison Commander with the security components entered the village to assess the carnage that took place. We counted 40 houses burnt and a lot of people injured. At the time, we counted 27 persons dead, including a policeman; later we uncovered two more dead bodies, making it 29,” he said.
Abdur-Rahman disclosed that the deployment of more security personnel to the area had brought the situation under control.
“This kind of animalistic carnage must stop; the law enforcement agencies will never tolerate this nonsense again.
“Enough is enough, we are drawing battle line with any person who does not like peace to prevail in this our society.”
The police chief, however, said no arrest had been made, but assured that the perpetrators would be arrested and prosecuted.
Abdur-Rahman advised residents of the area to embrace peace, and work towards building confidence and trust among themselves for lasting peace.
Daily Trust learnt that the affected villages were Karamai, Gidan Gajere, Gidan Auta and Chibiya all under Maro, a border town between Kajuru and Kachia Local Governments.
A source said most of the bodies were found at Karamai and Gidan Auta villages.
The state government, in a statement yesterday by the governor’s media aide, confirmed the incident and condemned the recourse to violence, calling on all communities to support the efforts towards restoring calm in the area.
“The government is saddened by these attacks, condemns the perpetrators and urges all residents of the area to support the security agencies in their efforts to protect communities,” the statement partly read.