The death toll in the recent attacks in Kaduna state has risen to 130,
Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced Tuesday.
The killings occurred in Kajuru local government area of the state.
El-Rufai had earlier on Friday announced that 66 persons were killed
by unknown attackers.
Addressing State House correspondents after attending an expanded
security meeting summoned by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday,
the governor said the figures had gone up.
The security meeting, convened to discuss the resurgence of insecurity
in Kaduna, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, was attended by three
governors and security chiefs.
Several persons initially doubted the report of the killings, which
came on the eve of the now postponed presidential elections. El-Rufai
said those who doubted them were “grossly irresponsible”.
He said as governor, he receives and reads security briefings every
morning. “I work only on that basis,” he said.
The governor said “the latest report shows that over 130 were killed,
not even 66”.
El-Rufai also said relatives of the victims have already provided the
state government with the names of those killed. He the names will be
released to the media.
The Kaduna state commissioner of police, Ahmad Abdulrahman, who also
attended the briefing said eight persons were earlier arrested.
“We intended prosecuting those arrested today, but as we speak, three
more were arrested. We want to do the needful before taking them to
court,” he said.
