El-Rufai Condemns Killing Of 34 Persons In Kaduna Community
In what has become a routine daily call by his administration, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Monday condemned the attack on Madamai community in Kaura Local Government Area that claimed 34 lives.
A statement by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said the governor has however promised that the government would write-off the cost of treating all those injured during the attack.
The statement further said that Governor el-Rufai has directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KASEMA), to urgently assess the situation in order to determine government’s intervention aimed at assisting affected households and addressing their immediate welfare needs.
While appealing for calm in the affected community and across the State, Governor el-Rufai condoled the victims’ families and prayed for the souls of those that lost their lives following the deadly attack by suspected bandits.
He however challenged all security agencies and relevant stakeholders to effectively up their game by intensifying efforts at fishing out the culprits and bringing them to book.
The Home Affairs Commissioner had explained in a statement that security agencies reported the killings in Kaura to the government.
According to him, troops mobilised to the location also came under fire, before forcing the assailants to withdraw after an intense exchange.
Despite efforts by security agencies, Kaduna has remained one of the hotbed of banditry and criminality with thousands of people regularly killed or kidnapped by so-called unknown gunmen.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command said five suspected kidnappers were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, while another suspect was killed in a botched kidnap attempt in Zaria on Monday.
The Command spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige, said on Monday in Kaduna that the police on September 26, at about 3 a.m. acted on credible intelligence that an 18-seater bus was conveying suspected rustled cows along the Barde, Keffi road.
He said; “Based on the information, operatives of the command attached to Kafanchan Division swung into action and intercepted the said vehicle and arrested the five suspects.
“Among the suspects arrested is a notorious kidnapper, who has been on the command’s wanted list and the 13 rustled cows was recovered from him.”
Mr Jalige said the cows’ owner was identified from Uddah village and the cattle handed over to him, adding that the operatives also foiled a kidnap attempt by one of the bandits.
The Police image maker said; “On 27 Sept, at 0030hrs the command received a distress call through the Divisional Police Officer, Zaria City that some bandits in large number invaded the residence of one person at Nagoyi Quarters, Zaria in their desperate attempt to kidnap the occupant of the house.
“On getting the information, a team of police men alongside members of vigilante services led by the DPO rushed to the area and engaged the bandits in a gun duel.
“As a result, one bandit was neutralised while others took to their heels with bullet wounds abandoning their mission.”
He said the corpse of the bandit was deposited at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Teaching Hospital, Shika.
Jalige however urged members of the public to report any person with suspected bullet injury to the nearest police station. – With additional NAN and Premium Times reports
