Bandits kill 15 farmers in Kaduna, Benue

Bandits have reportedly killed no fewer than 15 farmers and two vigilantes in different attacks in Kaduna, Delta and Benue states.

Nine farmers were killed at Unguwar Danko, near Dogon Dawa village in Birnin Gwari Area of Kaduna State, on Saturday afternoon when they were working on their farms.

Residents said the bandits whisked away about three other farmers.

The Member-elect representing Kakangi Constituency, Yahaya Musa, who confirmed the incident, said all those killed were farmers.

He explained that some villagers sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

The state government has yet to react to the incident.

However, the police spokesman in the state, DSP

Mohammed Jalige, promised to get details before commenting.

In Benue, gunmen reportedly killed six people in Akpete village of Apa Local Government Area. A local, Joseph, told our correspondent on the phone that the incident happened on Saturday evening after the armed invaders launched an attack on Akpete, a village of Apa LGA.

Joseph said five dead bodies were recovered immediately after the dust which followed the pandemonium settled down while one more body was found early on Sunday morning, raising the death toll to six.

Corroborating the National Chairman of Apa Development Association, Barrister Eche Akpoko, lamented that the killing of people had become a continuous thing in the area.

“It’s a very sad development. Yesterday (Saturday), they attacked Akpete at about 6pm. By this morning, the number of casualties stands at six but we are not definite about the number yet as they keep discovering corpses from corners, and bushes.

“As of this morning, the report I got was that they have discovered six corpses,” Akpoko said. Also on Saturday, in Ole Abulu village of Agatu LGA, which borders Apa LGA, a woman was allegedly raped by four gunmen.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Catherine Anene, told journalists in Makurdi that she had yet to receive reports about the attacks.