Bandits Killed 323, Kidnap 949 In Three Months In Kaduna – Commissioner

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, has disclosed that not less than 323 people were killed and 949 kidnapped by bandits across the state in the last three months.

Aruwan while giving a security report of the state in the first quarter of 2021, further stated that the military troops neutralised 64 bandits and arrested several gunrunners in the state.

The Commissioner added that the security report covers banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, attacks, and reprisal attacks.

He noted that of the 323 people killed during the period under review, 20 were women and 11 were minors while 292 were males.

The Commissioner said, “The report also includes the aerial missions conducted over identified bandit hideouts and locations across the state, during which multiple scores of bandits were engaged and neutralised with their camps destroyed.

“Deaths linked to banditry, violent attacks, communal clashes, and reprisals in the first quarter total 323 across the state. Of this, 20 were women and 11 were minors.

“Out of the 323 citizens killed, 292 were males. 236 of the recorded deaths occurred in Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Igabi, Giwa, and Kajuru LGAs.

“Birnin Gwari recorded the highest figure of 77 deaths, followed by Chikun with 52, Igabi 45, Giwa 42, Kajuru 20 deaths in the first quarter.

“Southern Kaduna Senatorial District had 68 deaths in total, of which five were women and two below the age of 18.

“Kajuru had 28 deaths, followed by Zangon Kataf with 14 and Kagarko with 12

“And the Northern senatorial zone is the least affected with 19 people killed and Zaria has the highest casualty of six.

“As earlier highlighted, 64 armed bandits were neutralised during engagements with ground forces.”

Meanwhile, some of the bandits were neutralized by the military through about 150 targeted aerial missions conducted by the Nigerian Air Force.

Aruwan said scores of gunrunners were intercepted while 36 AK47 Rifles, 1959 rounds of live ammunition and one rocket-propelled grenade were recovered