Six Killed As Bandits Shoot Travelers In Kaduna

Suspected armed bandits have shot six commuters along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road in Kaduna, the state government has said.

In a statement on Friday, signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the bandits killed the travelers while running away from security agencies patrolling the area.

Aruwan disclosed that the bandits took to the highway around Ungwan Dangedda while shooting at several vehicles

He said that the driver of a commercial vehicle was said to have been hit in the process, forcing him to lose control of the vehicle.

According to the commissioner, the vehicle somersaulted several times before coming to a stop, after which the bandits reportedly fled the scene.

He said that the six persons that died on the spot from the crash were identified as Abdurrashid Ya’u, Sa’idu Ya’u, Suwaiba Ali’ Sulaiman Ustaz, Ramatu Ya’u, and an unidentified infant.

Six other persons — Ubale Yahuza, Rabiu Ibrahim, Umar Musa, Saude Yusuf, Mohammed Aminu, and Kadima Mercy — sustained injuries.

Speaking further, Aruwan said two people have been reported killed by bandits during an attack in the Zaria local government area of the state.

The commissioner revealed that the bandits also stole four motorcycles from the village during the operation.

He said bandits had earlier stormed the village and attacked the residence of Abdulazeez Sani, a Local Government Council member, and abducted his wife Samira Abdulazeez, two children Aliyu and Lawal Abdulazeez, and another woman, Halima M. Sani alongside her son.

As the bandits made away with the hostages, they were intercepted by local vigilante members at Ungwan Mai Turmi village in the nearby Igabi local government area.

The ensuing shootout forced the bandits to abandon their captives and beat a hasty retreat, enabling the rescue of the abductees by the vigilantes.

The bandits retreated, passing through Ungwan Hazo village in Zaria local government area, and there shot two persons dead; Musa Isah and Yusufa Suleiman, while two women, Hafsatu Isah and Fatima Suleiman sustained gunshot wounds in the attack.