About 150 bandits wielding AK-47 rifles on 50 motorcycles attacked Kaya village in Giwa local government area of Kaduna state, killing 15 villagers in a two-day frenzy and leaving nine others with various gunshot wounds.
A statement Sunday by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said the villagers retaliated by killing four suspected bandits, even as several shops, five vehicles and some motorcycles were burnt by the hoodlums during the attack.
The injured people were taken to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika for treatment.
Aruwan said: “The military and other security agencies have informed Kaduna state government that several lives were lost in a series of killings and counter-killings in Kaya community, Giwa local government area of Kaduna Central Senatorial District of Kaduna state, which shares a boundary with Hayin Kaura village of Dandume local government area of Katsina state.
“According to the security brief, the violence began on the 1st of January, 2021 when armed bandits attacked Kaya town and kidnapped some locals including two married women. 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.
“The bandits in the course of the confrontation kidnapped and killed one Shamsu Umar, a leader of the Kaya volunteers. His corpse was found on the 2nd of January 2021 after a search operation in the forest.
“On the same day, after recovery of the corpse, unidentified persons came across some herders, and in apparent retaliation for the killing of Shamsu Umar, killed four of them, listed as follows: Musa Lawal, Ibrahim Sani, Haruna Umar, Idi Isah.
“At around 6:30pm yesterday, 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. Troops of the Nigerian Army and police operatives were quickly deployed to the location, along with an air platform of the Nigerian Air Force.
“Sadly, the following locals were killed: Hudu Shafiu, Madaro Madaki, Ibrahim Hamida, Ibrahim Mohammed Maidoya, Kabiru Maitakalmi, Ibrahim Kayawa, Danladi Daiyabu, Zubairu Mailemu, Awwalu Yahaya, Audu Sarkar and Maharazu Adamu. Three unidentified corpses were also recovered, said to be drivers in transit from Funtua, Katsina state.
“Similarly, the following persons sustained bullet wounds and are receiving medical attention at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Shika, Zaria: Mujahideen Muhammad, Suleiman Mustapha Bashir,
Ibrahim Sulaiman, Nuhu Idris, Alkassim Ismail,Nafi’u Sirajo, Musa Magaji, Muhammad Salisu Kaya, Musa Ibrahim.”
“After the attack, security agencies confirmed that several shops, five vehicles and some motorcycles were burnt by the attackers.
“The Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir el-Rufai who was involved in coordinating responses to the attack on Saturday night, condoled the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of their souls.
“As he has repeatedly done, the Governor appealed earnestly for recourse to the law as the main solution to the violence, killings and counter-killings by aggrieved groups and Individuals. The Governor expressed deep concern, and tasked security agencies to carry out extensive investigations into the circumstances leading to the killings,” Aruwan added.
Niger mourns
Also in Bana-Rami, Mashegu local government area of Niger state, seven farmers were reportedly killed with several others injured by bandits.
Mourning the slain farmers who were killed over the weekend, the state government assured the people that banditry would soon be brought to an end.
Leading a delegation to commiserate with the deceased families, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, reassured the people that the administration was committed to ending banditry, kidnapping and other criminality in the state.
He said: “I urge our people not to despair but to see the activities of bandits and other criminal elements in the state as a challenge and to step up collective actions to defeat the enemies in collaboration with Government and security agencies”.
He called on traditional, religious, and community leaders to assist government with relevant information of any suspicious activities or movement in their areas with a view to aiding the work of security agents in fighting insecurity in the state.
Responding, Sarkin Baban-Rami Alhaji Musa Adamu, assured that the people of the area would not relent or be deterred until peace was fully attained in the area and state in general.
Meanwhile, Chairman Shiroro local government of Niger state Suleiman Dauda Chukuba has appealed to the federal government to rescue his people from bandits’ onslaught.
Speaking in an interview with Blueprint, the council boss regretted that bandits were now operating in almost all the villages of the local government.
He said: “The condition of our people is so sad and pathetic. People keep rushing to Kuta and other towns from villages under attack of bandits. Now it is difficult to tell you the numbers of people displaced in the local government as more villagers continue to pour in every day. We have lost count of displaced persons. There are villages that we cannot reach, especially those in the Forward Operation Base (FOB) of the military.”
Chukuba however commended security agencies for the sustained war against the bandits in his local government adding that, “for seven years now, we have been battling bandits in Shiroro local government and we are grateful to security agencies especially the military and the police”
…Bayelsa community
Also, over 20 houses were set ablaze in the early hours of Sunday by gunmen allegedly on a reprisal as they invaded Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state.
The armed men, said to have invaded the community in 50 speedboats, were allegedly on a mission to take over control of the community from an ex-militant leader, Paul Eris also known as Ogunbos.
Sources from the community said the gunmen chased chased out community members suspected to be loyal to Eris and took over the control of the town.
One of the sources who didn’t want his name in print for security reason, said: “As I speak with you, many people are still hiding in the bush and many houses have been burnt down.
“The gunmen came in over 50 speedboats shooting sporadically and gained entrance into the community. People had no other option than to run into the bush for safety.
“Our intelligence report has it that the gunmen have vowed to remain in the community and ensure that Ogunbos and his followers never return to the community.
“I was told that the Christmas day attack on Ogunbos’s house was to drive him out of the town. And that today’s attack is aimed at taking total control of the community.”
As at the time of this report, it’s however not clear whether lives were lost during the attack.
NAF strikes terrorists
And in yet another feat, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets have killed several Boko Haram fighters during air strikes at two locations – Kote Kura and Bulama Isamari – in Borno State.
The air strikes were executed Saturday 2 January, 2021, by NAF fighter jets and helicopter gunships.
A statement by Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche said the air strikes were executed based on credible intelligence indicating that the terrorists had established camps at the two settlements.
He said at the overhead of Kote Kura, a settlement in Bama area, the NAF attack aircraft engaged scores of terrorists observed in the target area and killed several as the aircraft destroyed their structure.
“At Bulama Isamari, within the Timbuktu Triangle,” Enenche said, “the NAF aircraft took turns to engage the target, scoring accurate hits which equally resulted in the neutralisation of several terrorists.”
…70 killed in Niger Rep.
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of 70 people in Zaroumdareye, a border town between Niger Republic and Mali by militants, describing the incident as another clarion call for united action by African leaders against terrorism.
Reacting to the incident in Abuja Sunday, the president said: “I am profoundly shocked by the large scale death of innocent people at the hands of these callous militants who have no regard for the sanctity of human life.”
“We are facing grave security challenges on account of the evil campaign of indiscriminate violence by terrorists in the Sahel and only united action can help us defeat these vicious enemies of humanity,” he said.
The president said terrorism has now become a contagion of evil that can spread anytime if united action is not taken.
“Instability in one part of Africa had implications for the security of others. The destabilisation of Libya in 2011 is producing domino effects on the security of other African countries including Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and others.
“The looting of Libyan armouries in the aftermath of Gaddafi’s fall has put dangerous weapons into the hands of terrorists and other criminals who now pose security challenges to other countries.
“We are united by common fate and therefore we must act in concert to defeat these evil men who target innocent people. Let me use this opportunity to express my deepest sympathy for the government, the people of Niger and the families of the victims,” he said
