Gunmen kill 50, abduct dozens in 9 Kaduna communities

Rustle over 100 cattle

Suspected bandits have reportedly killed no fewer than 50 people and abducted many others in a series of attacks launched on nine communities of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Speaking to our correspondent yesterday, a member of a vigilante group in Dillalai area, Mansur Ibrahim, said the bandits, who attacked the villages, also burnt houses and vehicles, including motorcycles and carted away over 100 cattle.

He said the villages affected were Dillalai, Zango Tama, Kaya, Barebari, Anguwan Bakko, Gidan Alhajin Kida, Kadanya and Durumi, among others.

“Dillalai was worst hit as about 15 people were reported to have been killed, with five commercial trucks and five houses burnt,” he said.

A top local government official who spoke to Daily Trust Saturday on anonymity said the number of people killed could be higher or lower than 50, adding that they were still collating data of dead bodies.

“We are liaising with ward heads to compile the number of people killed; those who were abducted, as well as the number of houses burnt and cattle rustled,” he said.

Our correspondent gathered that the bandits were sighted about 4pm on Thursday when they began raiding villages from 6pm, up to 2am.

It was gathered that security has been beefed up in the area following attempt by the bandits to stage a comeback on Friday morning.

The Kaduna State police public relations officer, ASP Mohammed Jalinge, who confirmed the incident, said the command was yet to compile the actual number of deaths recorded during the attack.

“We are still waiting for the full details of the incident from the divisional police officer, Giwa and the area commander, Zaria,” he said.