The authorities in the north-western Nigerian state of Kaduna say at least 16 people have been killed and an unspecified number of others abducted during multiple attacks by gunmen on several villages.
The attacks happened on Monday and the early hours of Tuesday as communities in the region continue to suffer raids by criminal gangs, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Aruwan said many other persons were also injured when gunmen attacked Giwa, Zangon Kataf, Igabi and Kajuru Local government areas of the state between Sunday and Tuesday.
He said that the District Head of one of the villages in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area and his son were killed in the early hours of Tuesday.
The deceased district head’s daughter and widow were injured by the gunmen who also abducted many people.
Aruwan stated that two persons were killed when assailants attacked Fatika, Kaya and Yakawada villages in the Giwa local government area of the state.
The commissioner added that 11 persons were killed in Monday’s attack at Albasu village in the Igabi local government area.
He said that security agencies already identified a former village head as the person killed in Kajuru local government area where two persons were also abducted.
“Troops, in collaboration with other security agencies, are carrying out investigations and trailing the assailants,’’ Aruwan stated.
He said that the governor had directed the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Security to team up with the military to ensure diligent investigations.
Criminal gangs frequently carry out deadly attacks on communities and kidnap people for ransom in several states in north-western Nigeria. In recent weeks the security situation seems to be deteriorating once again – despite the presence of thousands of troops in the region.