Community Leader And Sons Killed In Nigeria’s Kaduna State 

Suspected cattle rustlers have killed at least five people in ‘Yan Durme community of Zaria local government area, Kaduna State, in Nigeria’s North West. 

The rustlers killed 80-year-old Ardo Alhaji Shuaibu Muhammad and his four sons at about 10 pm on Saturday June 17. 

Delu Halima Shuaibu, wife of the deceased, told newsmen after the burial that the attackers shot her husband in the head. 

“They brought my husband out of our room and shot him twice on his head. They later entered other rooms in the house and searched for his children, where they brought them out and shot them instantly before moving away with 100 cows,” she said. 

The four sons of the local chief are Adamu Shuaibu, Musa Shuaibu, Abubakar Shuaibu, and Ibrahim Haruna, who are all married with children. 

Recently, the northwestern states have been debilitated by the activities of cattle rustlers, which they use to fund their terrorist activities. 

Threat

Reports suggest that after the gubernatorial election in the country, which saw the election of new governors in Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, the armed groups are increasing the number of attacks in order to get attention. 

Cattle rustling poses security threats to other countries apart from Nigeria and the Sahel region. 

According to Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC), the two countries in the region that produce the most cattle are Nigeria and Mali, which are also the hotbeds of cattle rustling. Nevertheless, the supply routes of stolen livestock link armed organisations, criminal organisations, and other entities throughout West Africa.

Musa Gambo, a resident of Zaria who was at the funeral of the traditional ruler and his sons, told HumAngle on the phone that the assailants, who are said to be about five in number, moved away with at least 100 cows. 

Taunting

The attackers had been calling the victims, taunting and threatening them for some time, HumAngle understands.

“The assailants have been calling his eldest son, Adamu on phone asking him to give their father the phone to speak with them but he always refused. They would insult him and threaten to kill him. 

They would then say they are coming for them today or tomorrow. And, they will not come. But, they will not. Suddenly, they appeared on Saturday,” Gambo said. 

Gambo added that other people who came out to help them were also shot by the gunmen. They are now receiving medical attention. 

Abdurrahman Shuaibu, the only survivor of the attack among the deceased children, said the bandits shot two other people on their way out of the village.

The dead were buried on Sunday. 

‘Yan Durme is at least 5 km away from Zaria. 

The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mohammad Jalige was contacted by HumAngle for comments. He confirmed the incident but provided no other information.