A group of unknown assailants suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday attacked attendees at Maranatha Baptist Church and St Moses Catholic Church in Robuh, Ungwan Aku, and residents of Ungwan Fada, Ungwan Turawa, and Ungwan Makama in Kajuru State’s Rubu general region, Kaduna Staten, Northwest Nigeria.
The attendees were assaulted while gathering for their first mass at St Moses Catholic Church, where three worshipers were slain and a total of 46 people have yet to be found among the affected communities.
The Kaduna State government confirmed the attack through Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner for internal affairs and home affairs. According to reports from security agencies, the bandits stormed the villages on motorcycles, starting from Ungwan Fada and moving through Ungwan Turawa, Ungwan Makama, and finally Rubu.
“In Rubu village, the bandits attacked worshippers in the Maranatha Baptist Church and St. Moses Catholic Church.
“Three locals have been confirmed killed in the attacks. They are identified as Peter Madaki (ward head of Ungwan Fada), Elisha Ezekiel (resident of Ungwan Fada), Ali Zamani (youth leader of Rubu).
“Two persons were left injured in the attacks: one Aniro Mai, and a yet-unidentified woman. An unspecified number of locals were also kidnapped, according to the received reports.
“The bandits looted shops and carted away some valuables from the villages,” Aruwan said.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, expressed deep regret and denounced the attack in the harshest terms, sending her sincere condolences to the families of the victims and praying for the repose of their souls, according to Aruwan.
The acting governor also expressed his condolences to the churches that had been targeted, and wished the injured a swift recovery.
Sources say the attackers who invaded the three settlements whisked roughly 46 residents away. Locals have been reported to have fled their villages due to ongoing attacks on their communities.