9 killed in Zangon Kataf
Gunmen on Sunday evening invaded Makarau Jankasa community in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, leaving nine people dead.
Scores of natives reportedly fled their homes to neighbouring communities as a result of the attack.
The fresh attack came shortly after the burning of some Fulani hamlets, including cattle and other domestic animals in Jankasa, Manchong and other places in Atyap Chiefdom, despite the efforts made by the Chiefdom’s Peace Committee to resolve the incessant farmers/ herders clashes in the area.
This latest incident also happened barely 72 hours after a similar attack on Warkan community in the same local government area on Friday, where nine people were reportedly killed, many injured and 12 houses burnt down.
Fulani houses (hamlets) in Manchong, Magamiya, Makaku and Jankasa were totally burnt down on Sunday, a development, Daily Trust gathered, fuelled suspicion that it might be a reprisal attack after the Warkan incident.
The Ardo of Manchong in the Atyap Chiefdom, Ardo Abubakar Ango Pate, who lost everything in the Sunday attack, said all their houses were totally burnt down.
“As I am speaking to you now, I am taking refuge in Zango town. I have nothing with me apart from the cloth I am wearing now. They started chasing Fulani since Friday and burnt down our houses, foodstuffs, cattle and domestic animals on Sunday,” he said while speaking with our reporter.
He added that he didn’t know the whereabouts of some of his people as many had fled to various places like Manchok, Laddugga, Zango Urban in Kaura, Kachia and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas, while some others were missing.
Also, a resident of MakarauJankasa, who preferred anonymity, said the attackers invaded their community around 5 pm on Sunday.
He said security operatives arrived the village at a time when the criminals had already perpetrated their act and disappeared into the bush.
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said promised to get back to our reporter after leaving a meeting.