Twenty-eight persons have been reportedly killed by rampaging bandits in Southern Kaduna communities.
The bandits, who attacked the communities on Sunday night, also razed several houses.
The affected communities included Malagum 1 and Sokwong of Kagoro, in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Confirming the killings, the council Chairman, Mr Mathias Siman, said seven persons were gruesomely killed in Sokwong community and their houses completely razed.
Also, Speaker of Kaura LG, Mr Atuk Stephen, said over 22 persons were killed in the Malagum 1 community.
Reacting, the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN said it is mourning the death of over 28 innocent defenceless people of the Mallagum community in the Kagoro area brutally slaughtered on Sunday night.
CAN chairman in the state, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said “This massacre has further proven that the killers of the Southern Kaduna people have not yet been neutralized as claimed.
“The federal government and the security agencies must not let the killers escape. Those who committed this evil must be fished out, arrested, and brought to face justice.
“These renewed killings may be a strategy to scare the people from exercising their rights and to further increase fear and impoverish them.
“Accordingly, CAN condemns this barbaric act in the strongest terms but appealed for calm, calling on the government and security to rise to the duty of protecting lives and property.”
On its part, the Kaduna State Government has sent heartfelt condolences to the Malagum and Sokwong communities in Kaura LGA.
Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said “the military and other security agencies reported that bandits attacked the locations and killed several citizens while burning houses and other properties.
“Governor Nasir el-Rufai expressed deep sadness at the report of the incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed, while offering condolences to their families. The Governor condemns the attacks as inhuman, considering the efforts of government, security forces, and the traditional institution and other critical stakeholders in the last one week.
“The Governor has also directed the State Emergency Management Agency , SEMA, to urgently provide relief materials to the communities.
“An urgent security intervention is being conducted by the Defence Headquarters Operation Safe Haven, as the Commander who is also the GOC 3 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Ibrahim Ali, and Sector 7 Commander, Colonel Timothy Opurum are presently in the location.
“The Kaduna State Government will make public further details on the incident as it receives feedback from the security forces.”
