Seven herders including five toddlers were killed in Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages of Kauru Local Government Area (LGA), two people are wounded, while five persons are missing, two herders were injured in Ningi village of Lere LGA in suspected reprisal attacks.
The recent attacks followed the killing of eight people in Gora Gan, Zango Kataf LGA on Thursday night.
This is just as Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state condemned the renewed attacks, and reprisals, noting that it will draw back the peace process.
A statement signed by the Kaduna state Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Saturday said, “the military under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and the police have informed the Kaduna state government of counter attacks on some herder settlements in Kauru and Lere local government areas.
“According to the operational feedback from the security agencies, the attacks were carried out by aggrieved youths following the killing of seven persons on Thursday night in Gora Gan, Zangon Kataf local government.
“The security agencies reported that seven herders were killed in a counter killing in Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages of Kauru local government, while two herders were injured at Ningi village of Lere local government.
“The seven herders killed at Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages in Kauru local government are as follows: Mustapha Haruna (One year), Ya’u Kada (One year), Sa’idu Abdullahi (One year), Zainab Zakari (One year), Sadiya Abdullahi (Five years), Aisha Abdullahi (One year), one unidentified woman burnt beyond recognition.
“Five persons are still missing and troops are searching for them in the general area. Six huts were burnt in the attack.
“Aisha Mohammed (20 years) and Sadiya Abdullahi (25 years) who were wounded in the Kauru LGA reprisal attack are receiving medical attention at Ungwan Idi Clinic.
“At Ningi village of Lere local government area, the two herders, Bingel Odi (31 years) and Isa Joda (Seven years) were injured and rushed to General Hospital, Saminaka, in the same local government.
“Governor Nasir el-Rufai who condemned the renewed counter killings sent condolences to the families that lost their loved ones and wished those recuperating speedy recovery.
“He described the renewed killing and counter killing of innocent citizens of Atyap and Fulani ethnicity as unfortunate. He decried the resort to violence, noting that it is not a solution to grievances and disputes, but a tragic way to escalate matters and drag people into more pains and misery.
“The governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected families with immediate effect.”
