Suspected Fulani herdsmen, again, attacked four communities in Southern Kaduna, killing at least 21 people, while scores of houses were burnt.
Th is is just as the Garrison Commander 1 Division Nigeria Army, Brig Gen Ismailla Isa and the Kaduna state Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh relocated to the region to coordinate and organise a determined response to the renewed attack by the armed bandits, according to the spokesman of Governor Nasir elRufai, Samuel Aruwan.
Th e villages aff ected by the fresh attacks include Ashim, Nissi and Zilan in Atakad district, Kaura local government and Bakin Kogi in Goska district of Jama’a local government.
Th e attacks in Ashim, Nisi and Zilan occurred yesterday, at about 6:00am, claiming 15 lives with scores of houses reportedly burnt, while the attack in Bakin Kogi occurred on Sunday at about 5:00pm, claiming seven lives and leaving many houses burnt. President, Atakad Community Development Association, Mr. Enock Andong, who confi rmed the attack on the three villages, said that one of the herdsmen, who were heavily armed, was killed by soldiers who fought hard to repel the attack.
“Th ey came around 6:00am and killed 15 people in Ashim and Zilan alone. I am on my way to Nisi to fi nd out the situation of things there,” he said. A resident of Bakin Kogi, Enock Barau, while narrating the ordeal they went through, said the invaders wore black from head to toe and started shooting on arrivalto the community. Barau, a former leader of the Kaninkon Development Association said that the attack lasted for about four hours as his community, with the support of soldiers tried to repel the herdsmen. Spokesman of the Kaduna state Governor, Samuel Aruwan said in a statement that the situation in the aff ected communities had been brought under control by Monday afternoon, with the relocation of Brig Gen Ismaila Isa and the CP Agyole Abeh.
He added that the two battalions of army and 10 mobile police squadrons were engaging the bandits, as the security agencies carry out its obligations to secure the area, protect lives and rout the armed bandits.
