Over 220 Killed In 3 Months Of Attacks In Kaduna – Government

At least 222 persons were killed in terrorist attacks and violent crimes in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria between April and June, 2021, the state government has said.

According to a security report presented to Governor Nasir el-Rufai on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, terrorists known locally as bandits killed 87 out of the 222 killed in the state within the period under review. Of this total, nine were women and eight were minors (below the age of 18).

“Of the total number, 159 deaths were recorded in Kaduna Central Senatorial District (72% of the total recorded). 156 of these occurred in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru LGAs. Igabi LGA recorded 44 deaths, and Birnin Gwari LGA 42. Chikun LGA had 37, and Giwa LGA 21. Kajuru LGA recorded 12 deaths in the second quarter,” Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs who presented the report, said.

“Southern Kaduna Senatorial District had 54 deaths in total, of which five were women and four were below the age of 18. Kachia LGA had 21 deaths, followed by Jema’a LGA with 14, and Kauru LGA with six. While the Northern Senatorial District recorded nine people killed in the second quarter (around 4% of the total).”

The terrorists also kidnapped 774 persons during the period, Aruwan said.

“Out of the 774 people kidnapped in the second quarter, Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounts for 555 (nearly 72 per cent of the total). Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru LGAs recorded 550 of these. Chikun LGA had 148 citizens kidnapped, Igabi had 139, while 91 persons were kidnapped from Giwa LGA. Kajuru LGA had 89 kidnapped citizens, and Birnin Gwari LGA recorded 83,” the commissioner said.

“Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 164 kidnapped persons, with Kachia LGA reporting the highest number of 111. The Northern Senatorial District recorded 55 kidnapped persons, with 37 of these from Zaria LGA.

According to Aruwan, 239 women and 32 minors were kidnapped.  The report also said 20 women and 13  were reported to have been raped across the state in the period. 

“Ten rape cases were reported from the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, comprising five minors. Eight of the cases were recorded in the Northern Senatorial District, with seven of them minors. Four  cases were reported from Soba LGA,” he said.

“A notable case was the rape of an eight-year-old boy who was sodomized by an adult in Hunkuyi, Kudan LGA. This case – as with other cases where perpetrators have been apprehended. The case is being pursued by the appropriate agencies to ensure the swift dispensation of justice.”

Aruwan said the terrorists had begun collecting levies from farmers in communities across 12 local government areas of the state to access their farms, after killing several of them.

“Many farmers in these areas, fearing for their lives and safety, have abandoned their fields altogether. This has already begun to affect crop yields, and the threat of food insecurity looms large,” Aruwan said.

“The most affected communities are in the frontline local government areas of Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa, Zaria, Chikun, Kauru, Kajuru, Kachia, Kagarko, Zangon Kataf, Jema’a and Sanga.”

Meanwhile, according to the report, 266 citizens were injured across the state, while 8,553 cows and other livestock were rustled within the period under review.

Eighteen of these were women, and five were below the age of 18, the report said.