Richard Ginika Izuora
Community residents of Kaduna have narrated how armed bandits killed 21, including 16 members of the same family in an attack in the state.
The act reportedly came as a revenge by criminal gangs on the village of Bakali according to residents on Thursday, February 13, 2020.
Gunmen on motorcycles raided the village of Bakali in Kaduna state and shot sporadically, setting homes and vehicles on fire.
The attackers were on a mission to avenge a raid on their hideout by local vigilantes.
A community leader in Bakali, Sani Nuhu confirmed to newsmen that the attackers killed 21 people.
The residents revealed that the assailants burnt alive 16 members of the same family; including six children. Also, five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) were burnt alive after locking themselves up in a house.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna Police Command admitted that it had received reports of an attack in Bakali; located in Fatika District of Giwa LGA.
The spokesman of the Command, Muhamnad Jalige; noted that the casualty figures could not be ascertained.
Sources reveal that the area where the attack happened has been a haven of sorts for criminal gangs. The gangs were alleged to have been engaged in cattle rustling and kidnapping for ransom in recent years.
Subsequently, local communities had formed vigilante groups to protect themselves. However, this had not succeeded in quelling the crimes.
A source disclosed that prior to the attack; vigilantes working together with Nigerian security forces had stormed the criminal gang’s camp in a nearby forest.
Also, the Police claimed it carried out a major operation in the area last week. It held that the operation saw the security operatives neutralise over 250 terrorists and bandits.