Kaduna: Bandits killed 1,192, kidnapped 3,348 in 2021

A total number of 1,192 people were killed by bandits and 3,348 abducted across Kaduna State in year 2021, according to the state government.

A total number of 1,192 people were killed by bandits and 3,348 abducted across Kaduna State in year 2021, according to the state government.

The government said among those killed were 1,038 men, 104 women and 50 minors.

• Farms abandoned as bandits take over 13 FCT villages
• ‘Over 50’ abducted as bandits hit another Katsina village

This is contained in the security situation report from January to December 2021 as presented by the state Commissioner Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, to the state governor Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday.

Aruwan said Kaduna Central Senatorial District recorded 720 deaths from banditry, communal clashes, violence attacks and reprisal attacks.

He said Southern Kaduna Senatorial District accounted for 406 deaths due to communal clashes alongside banditry.

In his remarks, the State Governor Nasir El-Rufai said based on the security report presented an average of nine persons were kidnapped daily by bandits across the state in 2021.

The governor, therefore, called on the Federal Government to create a theatre command similar to the situation in the North East to confront the insurgency that affected five states in North West.

“Kaduna State Government appeals to the Federal Government to create a Theatre Command similar to the situation in the North-East to confront the insurgency that has clearly emerged in five states of the North-West and Niger State with continuous and contiguous forest ranges.”

“The creation of such a Theatre Command will enable holistic approach to counter-insurgent operations across the six affected states and the enhanced coordination of the resources of the Armed Forces, the Police, the SSS, our respective State Vigilance Services, hunters and other local volunteers to fight the insurgents,” he said.

According to him, there is also an escalation in the number of persons killed by a whopping 255 compared to those sadly killed by banditry and criminality in 2020 in spite of the best efforts in supporting the Federal security agencies to bring an end to the phenomenon.