Attacks by suspected bandits in Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government areas (LGA) of Kaduna have left 19 people dead and many others injured.
Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna commissioner for internal security and home affairs, confirmed the attacks in a statement on Sunday.
Aruwan said 14 people were killed in Kutemeshi village in Birnin Gwari LGA while five others were killed in Kujeni village, Kajuru, LGA.
“On a sad note, the Kaduna State Government has received reports from security agencies of the killing of 19 citizens in Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government areas of Kaduna Central Senatorial District,” he said in the statement.
“The citizens were killed by armed bandits at Kutemeshi village in Birnin Gwari and Kujeni village in Kajuru, where several others were left with bullet wounds. Both attacks occurred on Saturday.
“Some shops were also looted with valuable items carted away. Some of the injured have been moved to a neighboring state closer to Kutemeshi for urgent medical attention, while others are in transit to an orthopaedic hospital in Kaduna.
“In Kujeni village of Kajuru LGA, the attackers burnt several houses, storehouses with foodstuff, warehouses loaded with building materials and a church.”
Aruwan said 14 corpses have been recovered from Kutemeshi, adding that the state government will provide updates on any emerging developments.
He said the state governor, Nasir el-Rufai, had directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected communities.
The commissioner said the government and security agencies were keeping tabs on another reported attack on Sunday morning around Kikwari village of Kajuru LGA.