Bandits have killed at least 18 people and abducted an undisclosed number of persons, including a toddler, in Igabi and Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
Daily Trust gathered that seven people were killed in Anaba village in Igabi while eight were killed when gunmen invaded Barinje village in Chikun LGA.
While confirming the attacks, the Kaduna State Government said bandits also attacked Kwarten Rigasa, Kwarten Waziri and Kwarten Shaku communities within Igabi LGA and in the process, killed one Danjuma Isa from neighboring Ungwan Kanti village.
The state government added that the gunmen had invaded Sanhu Makera village in Igabi and killed one Yakubu Abdullahi, a farmer, while unknown assailants on Tuesday killed one Maryam Lash Tahir around Ministerial Pilot Housing Estate, Millennium City, Chikun LGA.
While speaking with Daily Trust, residents of Barinje said the bandits attacked the village around 6pm on Tuesday.
Hassan Silas said many residents have relocated to Buruku town, adding that many sustained gunshot wounds while the bandits abducted a toddler and rustled about 100 cattle.
Kaduna state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said at Anabe, the bandits also burnt down houses, storehouses and barns as well as escaped with 20 cows.
According to Aruwan, the attacks on soft targets at Anaba and Barinje villages in the two LGAs followed the killing of several armed bandits via targeted air operations in which probing shots were fired at them.
“Suspicious movements were sighted at Goron Dutse, the sources of which were promptly engaged and neutralized. Also, at Kuyanbana, a long convoy of motorcycles was observed heading into the forest, which was likewise vigorously engaged and neutralized,” he said in a statement.
