The insecurity and bloodletting in Kaduna state appear to have reached a frightening height and are not showing any signs of abating anytime soon.
Kaduna State has been a flashpoint of killings and kidnapping by bandits of which no fewer than 101 including 12 security operatives and six vigilantes were killed in the first quarter of 2023, according to the National Security Tracker, NST.
During the same period, which is between January 1 and March 24, 2023, 42 people were also kidnapped.
According to Vanguard, 125 deaths, 82 kidnap were recorded during the period under review.
The figures indicated a decline in a number of deaths and those abducted within the same period in 2022.
The figure excludes those killed or kidnapped between March 24 to April 11.
In the first three months of 2022, no fewer than 287 people were killed, and 356 people kidnapped in Kaduna State.
Timeline of killings, kidnapping in Kaduna since January 2023
Jan 1: Bandits abducted two in Kagarko.
Jan 2-3: Troops killed four bandits in Giwa
Jan 9: Bandits killed 12 security operatives in Birnin-Gwari.
Jan 11: Bandits killed two and abducted four in Igabi.
Jan 14: Police officers killed one bandit in Igabi.
Jan 16: Troops killed two bandits in Chikun.
Jan 17: Jan 18: Six people were killed while several others were injured in an attempt to apprehend kidnappers who abducted two residents of Zonkwa in Zangon Kataf LGA.
Jan 23: Troops killed three bandits in Chikun.
Jan 25: Bandits killed five in Chikun
Feb 3: Gunmen killed two in Lere.
Feb 9: Troops killed four bandits in Birnin-Gwari.
Feb 16: Troops killed seven bandits in Chikun
Feb 19: Bandits abducted two in Giwa, Kaduna.
Feb 22: Troops killed five bandits in Birnin-Gwari.
March 1: Bandits killed one and abducted 23 in Kagarko.
March 3: Troops killed one bandit in Chikun, Kaduna.
March 5: Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes killed three civilians in Giwa.
March 7: Bandits killed six vigilantes in Birnin-Gwari
March 10: Bandits killed one and abducted four in Lere.
March 11: Bandits killed 17 in Zangon Kataf.
March 13: Police officers killed one bandit in Giwa.
March 14: Bandits killed 10 in Zangon Kataf.
March 16: Security operatives killed five Shi’ites in Igabi
March 23: Bandits killed one and abducted three in Kajuru.
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