On September 16, 2014, at least 50 people were killed when gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia stormed several villages in Kaduna State.
Eyewitnesses who fled to neighbouring towns said the attackers invaded the communities at about 2:00 a.m.
According to survivors, the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and on foot, firing indiscriminately at homes before setting buildings ablaze.
“They came around 2 a.m. and started shooting everywhere. Many people were killed in their sleep. We ran into the bush with nothing,” a resident who sought anonymity told reporters.
Security agencies have confirmed the attack. A spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command said officers have been deployed to the affected areas, adding that an investigation is underway to determine the motive and identify the perpetrators.
The Kaduna State Government condemned the killings and appealed for calm, urging residents to cooperate with security operatives and refrain from reprisal attacks.
The Federal Government also called for restraint and assured that security presence would be reinforced in vulnerable communities.
