In Kaduna State’s troubled Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, scores of security personnel are alleged to have been murdered by bandits in two communities, according to reports.
According to a source, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, police, soldiers, and vigilante group members were among the security personnel killed on Sunday.
“The attacks were not only on Sunday but started four days ago. Numerous security personnel were killed in an attack that occurred along Funtua Birnin Gwari road. However, on Sunday, two vigilantes, one police officer, and a soldier were all killed, according to the source.
The two communities that are impacted are Kubau and Ungwan Zakara.
According to information obtained, the unrest began when security personnel allegedly killed a boy who normally took care of the bandits’ cattle.
Terrorists stormed a checkpoint known as Aka along the Birnin-Gwari to Kakangi/Randagi road of the Western part of Birnin-Gwari LGA in large numbers after the incident, trying to kill some security personnel.
A resident, Abubakar Kakangi, who spoke to journalists on Monday, said the bandits have an agreement with the members of the communities where they allowed the locals to farm.
He noted that the bandits usually passed through the villages to sell stolen cows which the security agencies frowned at before the boy who “was looking after their cattle” was allegedly killed three weeks ago.
Kakangi said, “Three weeks ago, the security killed a boy who was looking after their cattle. The bandits were not happy over the murder of the local boy.
“Thus yesterday (Sunday) the bandits stormed Aka security checkpoint along Birnin-Gwari to Kakangi/Randagi road of the Western part of Birnin-Gwari LGA
“The attack took place around 2:00 pm. The bandits divided themselves into two groups and carried out the attack simultaneously at the two villages where they killed scores of security personnel including the Civil Defence Corps, police, vigilante and soldiers.”
There was no official confirmation from either the Kaduna state Police Command or the State Government.
When contacted on the telephone, the command’s spokesman, Mohammad Jalige, promised to reach out to the Area Commander of the affected communities and get back to our correspondent.
However, as of the time of filing this report (9:09 pm), Jalige had yet to get back to our correspondent.
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