Kaduna – No fewer than 37 people have been reportedly killed by bandits during fresh attacks in the Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The attacks took place separately on Sunday night at Malagum 1 and Sokwong communities of Kagoro Chiefdom in the Kaura Local Government Area of the state.
Although, the police authorities are yet to confirm the incident, the Speaker of Kaura Local Government Legislative Council, Chairman of Kauru Local Government Area, Hon Atuk Stephen, said the bandits carried out the coordinated attacks in the communities at about 11 pm on Sunday where they killed 37 people.
He also said that the bandits burnt down over 100 houses and destroyed many vehicles and motorcycles during the attack.
According to him, all houses in the Sokwong community were completely razed down by the bandits while the entire area has been deserted.
In his reaction ,
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State condemned the attacks on the two communities in the Kaura Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement by his Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the governor described the attacks as inhuman, considering the efforts of the government, security forces, the traditional institution and other critical stakeholders within the last week.
He also condoled the people of Malagum and Sokwong communities where attacks occurred, and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed.
The military and other security agencies reported that bandits attacked the locations and killed several citizens while burning houses and other property.
El-Rufai expressed deep sadness at the report of the incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed, while offering condolences to their families.
He also directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to urgently provide relief materials to the communities, adding that an urgent security intervention is being conducted by the Defence Headquarters Operation Safe Haven.