Gunmen continued their offensive in the face of intensified attacks by security agencies, as they killed nine people in Birnin Gwari and Giwa local government areas of Kaduna state.
According to government report, the gunmen set up road block on the Dogon Dawa-Kuyello road, after Ungwan Gajere Village where they slit six people to death. The gunmen in a separate attack killed two people in Ungwan Maje near Birnin Gwari, while they killed one person in Kwama village in Giwa in another attack.
Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan in a statement on Thursday said, “Security agencies have reported that armed bandits killed nine citizens in separate attacks spanning Birnin Gwari and Giwa local government area.
“According to the report, the armed bandits barricaded the Dogon Dawa-Kuyello road, after Ungwan Gajere village of Birnin Gwari LGA, and shot six people dead. They were identified as: Nura Rufai, Sanusi Gajere, Yakubu Labbo, Usman Dangiwa, Alhaji Abdulhamid and Janaidu Tsalhatu.
“Similarly, at Ungwan Maje, also of Birnin Gwari LGA, armed bandits shot and killed two persons, identified as: Haruna Dotu and Hamisu Mohammad
“Armed bandits also attacked Kwama village in Giwa LGA and killed one Nasiru Rufai, after he resisted their attempts to kidnap him.
“Governor Nasiru el-Rufai noted the report with sadness, and prayed for the repose of the souls of those slain, while sending condolences to their families,” Aruwan said.
In a related development, bandits on Tuesday reportedly killed 20 vigilantes in an ambush in Kotonkoro village of Mariga local government area of Niger.
It was also learnt that the bandits also attacked a military base in same Kotonkoro on Wednesday during which one soldier was killed and another kidnapped.
The commandant of the vigilantes in the local government, Abu Hashimu confirmed the killing of his men to journalists Thursday in telephone interview.
According to him, “the slain vigilantes were returning
from search operation when they were ambushed. 16 of them were killed on the spot while the bandits pursued four others who tried to escape and gun them down also”.
He said that the bodies of the slain vigilantes have been recovered adding that a joint security operation consisting of military and vigilantes has lodge manhunt for the bandits.
Blueprint learnt that the combined security team has entered the Dutse Magajiya forest as at Thursday combing it for the bandits.
