18 people have reportedly been killed by bandits who struck at Giwa, Chikun and Igabi local government areas of Kaduna State.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan confirmed the attacks in a statement released on Wednesday February 24.
The bandits who attacked Anaba village in Igabi local government area, killed seven people who have been identified as Ali Musa, Isa Sharehu, Tijjani Isa, Auwalu Shehu, Hashim Abdullahi, Hassan Saidu and Umar Rilwanu.
The bandits rustled no fewer than 20 cows during the operation and also burnt down houses along with storehouses and barns.
In Barinje village of Chikun local government area, the bandits killed 8 people who have been identified as Sunday Gwamna, Lawal Jizo, Salha Barau, Sabo Barau, Umaru Barau, Muhammadu Dan Azumi, Zailani Dogara and Jikan Gambo.
Some residents of the village were also abducted, and cattle rustled during the attack, while an unspecified number of injured victims are receiving treatment in hospitals. Loosely connected communities of Kwarten Rigasa, Kwarten Waziri and Kwarten Shaku in Igabi local government area were also attacked by armed bandits.
The bandits reportedly emerged from the Buruku area and raided the villages in a cattle rustling operation and in the process, killed one Danjuma Isa from neighboring Ungwan Kanti village as he made his way on foot to Kwarten Rigasa.
They also invaded Sanhu Makera village in Birnin Yero of Igabi local government area and killed one Yakubu Abdullahi, a farmer in the village, while another person was killed by unknown assailants in unusual circumstances, at the Ministerial Pilot Housing Estate, Millennium City in Chikun local government area.
The attacks on soft targets at Anaba and Barinje villages in Igabi and Chikun LGAs respectively followed the killing of several armed bandits through targeted air operations.
Aruwan said air platforms had earlier conducted armed reconnaissance around Anaba village during which the crew observed houses on fire and locals migrating to nearby settlements. He further disclosed that many bandits on motorcycles were neutralised by troops at Kankomi village and neighbouring communities as well as Kuyanbana forest while many of them escaped with bullet wounds.
