Gunmen strike in Kaduna again, kill seven children

Some unidentified gunmen were said to have separately attacked two Local Government Areas of Kaduna State and killed seven persons mostly children between the ages of one and five years while scores were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The two LGAs are Kauru and Lere.

A government statement claimed the attacks were reprisal following the Thursday night attack on Gora Gan in Zango-Kataf that claimed seven lives and the burning of 13 houses, two shops in the area.

The statement by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, released on Saturday, is titled, ‘Security agencies report reprisal killings in Kauru LGAs following Zangon Kataf LGA killings…Seven killed in counter killing.’

According to the commissioner, the information regarding the latest attacks was passed on to the government by the military and the police.

Aruwan said the various attacks were carried out by aggrieved youths following the killing of seven persons at Zango-Kataf.

He added that in retaliation, seven herders were killed in a counter-attack at Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages of Kauru local government while two herders were injured at Ningi village of Lere local government.

The commissioner listed those herders killed at Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages in Kauru LG to include, Mustapha Haruna (One year), Ya’u Kada (One year), Sa’idu Abdullahi (One year), Zainab Zakari (One year), Sadiya Abdullahi (Five years), Aisha Abdullahi (One year) and One unidentified woman burnt beyond recognition.

He said five persons were declared missing while six houses were razed during the attacks.

“Aisha Mohammed (20 years) and Sadiya Abdullahi (25 years) who were wounded in the Kauru LGA reprisal attack are receiving medical attention at Ungwan Idi Clinic,” the commissioner said.

Similarly, the commissioner said at Ningi village of Lere LG, the two herders were injured and rushed to General Hospital, Saminaka and identified them as Bingel Odi (31 years) and seven – year -old Isa Joda.

Meanwhile, the commissioner quoted the Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to have condemned the renewed counterattacks.

El-Rufai was said to have commiserated with families who lost their beloved ones during the unfortunate attacks and wished those recuperating speedy recovery.

The governor described the renewed killing and counter killing of innocent citizens of the Atyap and Fulani community as unfortunate.

He also decried the resort to violence, noting that it is not a solution to grievances and disputes, but a tragic way to escalate matters and drag people into more pains and misery.

However, the governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to the affected families with immediate effect.