How gunmen killed over 50 in Kaduna villages

As a result of the attack carried out by gunmen, hundreds of residents who fled their houses have no food and shelter. Spokesman of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Abubakar Adamu, told Sunday Trust that the agency was concerned about the plight of the displaced and is set to take relief materials such […]

As a result of the attack carried out by gunmen, hundreds of residents who fled their houses have no food and shelter. Spokesman of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Abubakar Adamu, told Sunday Trust that the agency was concerned about the plight of the displaced and is set to take relief materials such as food, cloths and other essential needs to them.
Investigation by Sunday Trust revealed that the surviving children and the elderly are starving. “All our houses have been burnt to ashes,” a courageous victim also told our reporter.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of September 17, was a renewed violence on Sanga, a local government area in Southern Kaduna. A retired clergyman, The Reverend Jacob Aku and his wife were also killed in the attack.
A resident of the area told Sunday Trust that the gunmen had ambushed a military patrol van, killing one soldier and injuring four others.
“There have been several attacks in Southern Kaduna, where over 5, 000 people have lost their lives. We need assistance to take care of the myriad of displaced persons. The world should know that the killings by some gunmen are still going on in Southern Kaduna. They always hit and run,” Mike Sanga said.
Also speaking to our reporter, another resident, Musa Bako said the killings should not be misconstrued as farmers/herders clash.
“Shekau’s Ansarul, a branch of Boko Haram, in a video after the 2011 post- election crisis, promised to take revenge on Southern Kaduna and some communities in the Middle Belt. The post-election crisis was fought in many parts of the North; why are we the target of night attacks?
“They have succeeded in carrying out the attacks through the use of
explosives and sophisticated weapons, which our locals cannot handle, even if they are trained. Through the guidance of informants that fell apart with Southern Kaduna communities during the election crisis, Ansarul fighters are succeeding.
“Just like the war in Maiduguri, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Kano states, the federal government must come to the rescue of Southern Kaduna people. A serving soldier, pastor, four pregnant women and 49 others, including children, were killed on Wednesday, and there is no word from the federal government. But a suicide bomber struck in Kano, killing about 18, and the federal government’s Reuben Abati issued a statement. Maybe they’ve been misled to thinking that the killings were as a result of a clash between farmers and herders.
“It is also unfortunate that some government officials are attributing the killings to local politics. They are alleging that it is a plan to destabilise the state. If you check the pictures of the latest killings in Sanga, you would know that it is a pure terrorist attack,” Bako said.
“In our counting, 12 people were killed in Fadan Karshi, 30 in Fada Karshi
Daji, seven others in another community. A pastor and another person were also killed at Ungwar Ganye,” vice chairman of the local government, Pastor Bulus Mandey Anzah said, adding that hundreds of residents have fled their homes to unknown destinations. Speaking on behalf of the chairman of the local government, Hon Emmanuel Danzaria, Anzah said temporary camps had been set up for some of the displaced persons, and called on emergency agencies to support them.
“The attacks are getting worse every day. Some of the soldiers who attempted to repeal the attack were also injured. Another soldier was killed. Many of the injured are now receiving treatment at Gwantu General Hospital,” he said.
Spokesman of the Kaduna State police command, Aminu Lawan, confirmed the incident but could not give details. The command has not issued an official statement concerning the recent attack.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Development and Fundamental Rights
Advocacy (CEDRA) has described the attack as barbaric. In a statement issued by Dr. John Danfulani, the group said it was unfortunate that the assailants have killed many people and wounded several others, just as they burnt down houses and destroyed farmlands.
“Not long ago, the same area witnessed mass killings by the same unknown gunmen. Inasmuch as we know that the country is facing difficult security challenges, we believe that government should do more in terms of providing relief materials to the affected communities and injured persons.
“Despite having agencies such as NEMA and SEMA at federal and state levels, interventions are too little, and many times, they come too late.
“It is quite unfortunate that government lacks the moral courage to boldly accept failure in its number one duty, which is safeguarding the lives and property of its citizens,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Sunday Trust gathered that four suspected gunmen have been arrested in connection with Wednesday’s attack in Sanga. A community leader told our reporter that the gunmen were arrested by security men in Sanga bushes after the attack. Spokesman of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Abdul Usman, said he was yet to get information about the arrest.