The death toll from Sunday’s attack on communities in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State has risen to 38.
There were reported attacks on villages in the local government with a Kaduna official saying at least 20 people were killed by unknown gunmen who attacked the villages.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, released a second statement Sunday confirming the death toll increase.
“Following the report of attacks by bandits across villages in Idasu, Giwa LGA, contained in an earlier update, security agencies have confirmed to the Kaduna State Government that 38 people were killed across the locations attacked,” Mr Aruwan said
“Twenty-nine of the victims have been identified, with nine remaining unidentified as of the time of this update.”
Mr Aruwan named the 29 victims as:
- Rabi`u Wada
- Salisu Boka
- Alh Nura Nuhu
- Alh Bashari Sabiu
5 Alh Lawal Dahiru
- Abbas Saidu
7 Inusa Kano
8 Malam Lawal Nagargari
- Malam Aminu
- Lawal Maigyad
- Alh Mustapha
12 Lawal Aliyu
13 Sale Makeri
14 Sani Lawal
15 Auwal Umar
16 Jamilu Hassan
17 Badamasi Mukhtar
18 Malam Jibril
19 Lawal Tsawa
20 Sule Hamisu
21 Sadi Bala
22 Kabiru Gesha
23 Abubakar Sanusi
24 Saiph Alh Abdu
25 Haruna Musa
26 Lawal Hudu
27 Malam Shuaibu Habibu
28 Malam Yahaya Habibu
29 Abubakar Yusuf.
In his earlier statement on Sunday, the commissioner said houses, trucks, and cars were also burnt by the attackers along with agricultural produce at various farms.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai received the reports with sadness and sent condolences to the families of the victims of the brutal attacks while praying for the repose of their souls,” Aruwan said.
He said the governor also commiserated with the affected communities and directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to conduct an urgent assessment of the area towards providing relief.
The latest incident occurred two days after a similar series of attacks on separate Kaduna communities.
Recall that the Kaduna Government confirmed on December 17 that at least nine people were reported killed and two others injured in separate attacks in Chikun, Zaria, and Zangon Kataf local government areas of the state.
Kaduna is one of the North-west states most affected by banditry where terror groups kill and kidnap residents at will.
Other states affected by such attacks are Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara as well as Niger in the North-central region.
The attacks have continued despite repeated pledges by President Muhammadu Buhari and the deployment of more security personnel to the area.
Meanwhile, at least over 20 people were killed with several others sustaining gunshot injuries when suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists invaded Kilangar village in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno state on Sunday, sources disclosed.
Klangar is a community in Askira Uba Council where the Deputy Speaker Borno State House of Assembly, Hon, Engr Abdullahi Askira hail from, and whose family house in that community was razed down few months ago by insurgents.
The insurgents on Sunday afternoon also completely razed down the residence of the District Head of Kilangar, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu Kilangar.
As at the time of filing in this report, it was gathered that there were no ground military troops to confront the attackers, although, the airforce jets later responded with an airstrike to repel the devastating attack on the community.
Reliable Vigilante/Hunter Sources who managed to repel the attack revealed that the armed insurgents stormed the community and about 2:PM and started shooting sporadically at their targets with setting ablaze residential houses, vehicles, shops and looting.
“We are currently under pandemonium as armed insurgents stormed our community, shooting sporadically at targets with setting ablaze residential houses, vehicles, shops and looting.
“Although I cannot tell you the number of casualties, over dozens were killed with destruction of properties with no confrontation from the security forces.” A community source who luckily escaped told newsmen
Confirming the incident, Deputy Speaker, Engineer Abdullahi Askira, said, “about 7 people were killed with setting ablaze of the residential house of the District Head, as well as destruction of 7 vehicles.
“Likewise, the insurgents have abducted unspecified number of residents, and carted away with two vehicles, after looting foodstuff and livestock in the community”. Said the Deputy Speaker.
All efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer ASP Sani Shatambaya proved abortive at press time.