At least 17 people have been killed after gunmen attacked Ungwar Wakili village in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Sources said the casualties are mostly women and children including a woman and her newborn baby.
An earlier report had stated that fifteen persons died, however, two of three other persons who sustained injuries, have died of their wounds.
Although the police authorities are yet to comment on the incident, however, the Executive Chairman of Zango Kataf Local Government Area, Francis Sani told Channels Television that the gunmen suspected to be militia herders invaded the community at about 9pm on Saturday and started shooting sporadically on people’s houses.
The chairman disclosed that fifteen locals mostly women and children were killed in the process, either from gunshots or machete cuts.
He further explained that the gunmen operated for some hours without any resistance from security operatives despite being located close to a mobile police checkpoint.
According to the local government Chairman, those who sustained injuries have been taken to the hospital for treatment, while the remains of the victims will be given a mass burial after normalcy has been restored
Meanwhile, a 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Ungwan Juju, Mabuhu, Ungwan Wakili and Zangon Urban with immediate effect. This is to allow men of the Nigerian Army to restore peace in the area.
Police Vow To Arrest Perpetrators Of Kaduna Attack
The police authorities in Kaduna State have vowed to arrest and bring to justice the masterminds of Saturday’s deadly attack.
A spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, Muhammad Jalige, who confirmed the attack in a statement, explained that the timely intervention of joint security personnel prevented the gunmen from unleashing more attacks on the community.
Jalige also assured that security operatives were on top of the situation, noting that all the culprits involved will be apprehended.
Trouble started in the community a couple of days ago when a boy rearing cattle was murdered, the police said.
“Repelling the hoodlums was a tedious task for our security agencies, but they were successful as the terrorists scampered away from the scene.”
“A joint security team will be combing the bushes in the area Sunday afternoon to search for bodies if there are any. They will also apprehend the suspects responsible for the killings.
“We are on top of the situation and all the hoodlums responsible would be rounded up,” the police stated.
(Channels TV)