Bandits Attack Kaduna Community, Kill 27

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have killed 27 in an attack on Runji community, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday at about 10.00 p.m when the gunmen invaded the community and opened fire on the villagers who were said to be already asleep.

Some of the victims were said to have been burnt beyond recognition as the bandits set their houses ablaze.

President of Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), Dr. Samuel Ache, condemned the attack  in a telephone interview, saying that 27 people were killed while several others sustained injuries.

It was gathered that the local vigilance group in the community attempted to engage the invaders, but were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the bandits.

The intervention of the military taskforce was said to have saved the community from being wiped out by the killers.

The Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement yesterday  but did not give casualty figures.

He said: “Several lives were loss” in the attack.

The commissioner said preliminary reports indicated that “the attack also left some residents injured and an unspecified number of houses burnt down in the community.“

Aruwan said the report further indicated that, “troops had a fierce encounter with the attackers and are still in the general area.”

“While waiting for a detailed report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who received the preliminary report in the early hours  of yesterday, condemned the killings as unacceptable and unjustifiable,” the statement said.

Aruwan said the governor expressed condolences to the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls as well as for the speedy recovery of the injured.

He said the Kaduna state government would  update the public on the incident as soon as detailed reports are received from security agencies.