NO fewer than 18 people have been reportedly killed in Kaduna, Zamfara and Yobe states during the weekend.About five people were killed while scores of others were injured, when unknown gunmen attacked the Aduwan Gida village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, causing panic in some parts of the state capital.
The news of the attack had got some residents jittery, but the Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero urged the entire people of the state to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as government had taken steps to forestall any break-down of law and order.
While confirming the attack, the District head of the area, Makama Bajju said the unknown gunmen invaded the village of Aduwan, in the Southern part of the state wielding sophisticated weapon, while they were conducting funeral rites for one of his ward heads.
He said the attackers were, perhaps those who wanted to chase them away from the area and occupy the place for reasons best known to them. Makama Bajju said the community is known for peaceful coexistence and were never involved in trouble with others.
He said now was the time for the area to be protected because it would be bad for the gunmen to launch another attack the area.
An eyewitness told journalists that the killing took place on Saturday at about 10.00 p.m. when residents were mourning the death of a Ward head, Chief Dodo Mutua.
According to him,“It was around 10pm at the residence of one of our ward heads who died yesterday (Friday) that we were attacked by the gunmen whose number could be in the range of hundred. They were armed with sophisticated weapons.
“Some injured persons had been taken to the St.Louis Hospital, here in Zonkwa while some corpses were deposited in the same hospital. I cannot really say how many right now, but was told that more than four corpses, including children were taken to the hospital.
The state Police Command had appealed to the public to remain calm as it commenced investigation into the attack. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Adenaike while confirming the attack in Aduwan village said that the command had deployed armed policemen to the area to maintain law and order in.
In another development, gunmen numbering about 30, early on Sunday morning attacked Beni village in Dansadau emirate of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state killing seven people, while several others were injured.
Eyewitnesses told the Nigerian Tribune that the incident occurred when the villagers were observing the Asuba (morning) prayers.
Sources said the hoodlums stormed the village with AK47 rifles and other offensive weapons as they moved from house to house attacking the villagers.
According to a source those who were not lucky to escape the gunmens trap were either killed or severely wounded.
Findings by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that in the stampede about seven people were reported to have died as a result of gunshots, while several others were injured and have been taken to the General Hospital Tsafe for medical attention.
As of the time of filing this report, the corpses of the seven deceased had already been buried according to Muslims rites.
Efforts to get the response of the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawal Abdullahi to comment on the incident proved abortive as he could not be reached through his phone lines.
However, a police source who pleaded anonymity told the Nigerian Tribune that a detachment of the mobile police has been dispatched to the trouble spot in order to crack down on the hoodlums.
In addition, Nigeria’s military has said that at least six people have been killed in an attack in North-eastern Nigeria, a region under attack by Islamic extremists.
A military spokesperson, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus said on Sunday that the attack happened on Saturday night in Ngalda, a town in Yobe State. Lazarus said no one has been arrested for the attack. However, local residents say they suspect that the radical Islamic sect known as Boko Haram carried out the attack. Boko Haram is blamed for attack which killed 792 people in 2012, according to a count by the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, a splinter group of the Boko Haram group, led by Sheikh Abdulaziz Ibn Adam on Saturday insisted that it was ready to dialogue with government to the group’s current bloody campaign.
Ibn Adam made the announcement at a news conference in Maiduguri.
He said that the group had come to realise that it could not achieve its aim through violence.
“You will recall that we announced a cease fire last month as a precondition for talks with government.
“But sadly after a few days of respite, violent began again in the country,” he said.
Ibn Adam said that the group was not responsible for the renewed violence in some parts of Borno.
“Those currently engaged in this violence are not our people because our people are obedient to their leaders.
“Since the leadership has asked them to cease fire, they won’t continue with violence,” he said.
Ibn Adam said that the group would go after those who still engaged in violent campaign since they had been warned severally.
He said that the leader of the sect Sheikh Abubabak Shekau was behind the cease fire agreement and hence all members must abide or face sanctions.
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