Gunmen kill 8, injure 14 in Kaduna village
Gunmen kill 8, injure 14 in Kaduna village
By Alex Uangbaoje
The people of Yangal village, a district under Kamanton Chiefdom, in Zangon Kataf Local Government area in Southern part of Kaduna state yesterday were threw into confusion as Unknown gunman attacked the village and killed not less than eight persons and injured 14 others.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night, when the gunmen opened fire at a crowd during a ceremony in the village.
The Acting Chairman of Zangong Kataf LGA, Hon. Jonathan Asake, who confirmed the incident yesterday said, he had a distressed call around 11pm yesterday and was informed that an armed “Fulani man” and another unarmed accomplice, attacked Yangal.
“When I got there, I saw the tragedy and helped in evacuating five corpses and 12 injured persons to St. Luis Hospital, Zonkwa, about 15 km from Yangal village.
“I reached Yangal village around 12:am this morning, and met scores of angry, sticks and knives wielding youths who wanted to descent on me for coming late. I was told that an old woman had passed on and was buried. That it was usual tradition for the grandchildren of the deceased to organise a small celebration to honour any person that had passed the age of 80.
According to the villagers, two Fulani men were sighted around 9pm on Tuesday night around the venue of the celebration – one with a gun and the other had nothing on him. Not suspecting anything, the group went on with there celebration.
“Then the armed man opened fire on the crowd with his AK 47 riffle. He killed 5 people on the spot and 2 later died in the hospital. I saw the corpse and those 12 that were injured.
We evacuated them to St. Luis Hospital. I left the hospital around 5am this morning. Of those injured, 9 were critically hit, and we have taken them to a more equipped hospital in Jos, Plateau State.
“By the time, soldiers arrived the village, the two men had fled, and the village was in confusion.
“A Fulani man, under the protection of Police approached me, and appeared distressed while I was in the village. He claimed that the two suspects rustled his cows. But, security report reaching me has not confirmed that.” he said.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has condemned the unfortunate attack on the innocent people of the village.
A statement by his Media Aide, Ahmed Maiyaki, the Governor said the attack is an apparent attempt by miscreants with the aim of causing confusion in the state and to heighten tension among the peaceful people of the state.
It is rather sad that some people will stop at nothing in achieving their selfish goals including shedding the blood of innocent citizens of the state.
The Governor has directed the State Emergency Management Agency to immediately move to the affected community to provide victims o the attack with necessary support and assistance.
He also called on people in the affected community to remain calm as security agencies are already investigating the matter with the aim of bringing the perpetrators to book. Adequate security personnel have also been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.
Governor Yero condoled with victims of the attack and prayed that God forgive those that lost their lives in the attack and their families the fortitude to bear the loss. The Governor has also directed payment of hospital bills of those injured in the attack.
He prayed that God Almighty expose those behind the heinous act as they are enemies of the state seeking to curtail the prevailing peaceful environment in the State.
