ABUJA, Nigeria
At least 47 people have been killed in attacks by bandits on Saturday and Sunday in some villages in Nigeria’s North West Kaduna state, according to official sources.
The
attacks have prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the army to respond
appropriately.
The
bandits attacked villages in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna on Sunday
morning, with the death toll increasing from 20 to 38, and also killed nine
people in Chikun, Zangon Kataf, Igabi and Zaria local government areas on
Saturday.
The
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel
Aruwan, confirmed on Sunday evening that terrorists invaded the villages and
opened fire on the innocent villagers.
He
said that several houses, trucks, and cars were destroyed and produce on
various farms burnt.
Governor
Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state expressed sadness over the attacks and has
directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to conduct an urgent
assessment of the area with a view to providing relief to the victims.
In
a quick response to the attack, President Buhari affirmed that security forces
had turned the heat on terrorists “who are getting frustrated and are
soft-targeting innocent citizens, looting their assets, burning their homes and
killing them indiscriminately”.
He
reiterated his directive to security and intelligence chiefs to do everything
they could to destroy the remaining vestiges of the terrorists.
The
79-year-old president on Sunday condemned renewed banditry in Kaduna State and
described the latest incident as gruesome in nature, sad and unacceptable.
President
Buhari also expressed the nation’s condolences to the government of Kaduna
State and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died.
Kaduna
state had in decades been enmeshed in violent tribal and religious clashes
which spiked in the last two years, resulting in the deaths of more than 5,400
people.
The
incursion of banditry in the state has compounded the security situation, with
the terrorists holding people, including children, to ransom.
As
a welfare package to boost the morale of the police and spur them to do more in
the fight against criminals, Nigeria on Friday approved a new salary structure
for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The
president increased the salaries by 20 per cent across the board.
The Minister of Police Affairs Maigari Dingyadi also announced an increase in allowances.
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