Nine killed as Kaduna boils again

Nine people have been killed in an attack in Zikpak community in Jama’a local government area (LGA) of Kadauna state.

Jama’s is among the LGAs where the Kaduna state government imposed a 24-hour curfew over insecurity yet the attacks have continued.

Armed men reportedly stormed the village, located about one and a half kilometers away from Kafanchan, headquarters of Jama’a LGA, around 6:30pm on Friday.

Gideon Mutum, a resident, said three days ago, there was a rumour that the community would be attacked but security was not beefed up.

He identified Shama Ishaya, a pastor at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), was among those killed in the latest attack.

He said 11 others sustained injuries from gunshots while five houses were burnt.

He added that six of those injured were in critical condition at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau state, where they are being treated.

“The confidence that the government always give us is that we have a joint task force outfit here in Kafanchan, but we all know that the manpower is not enough, the motivation is not enough and the necessary equipment for security are not there so,” he said.

“Yesterday, there was actually no any effort by the military when the attack took place in the community but they were taken by surprise because the criminals came and carried out the killings within few minutes and left without being apprehended by security personnel.

“Curfew will not solve the problem, rather it will escalate the killings, looking at what we have experienced in other communities where 24 hour curfew is in place.

“So curfew will not make any difference from what we have experienced in other communities in Kauru and Zangon Kataf LGA where the governor imposed 24 hour curfew over a month ago.

“We have seen how people are being killed despite the curfew, rather it has emboldened and provided the enabling environment for the herdsmen to invade communities and kill people at will.”

On Friday, Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, said the incessant killings in the southern part of the state are usually given ethnic and religious colourations.