No fewer 20 people have reportedly been killed on Saturday night when Sankwab community of the Atyap Chiefdom of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State came under attack by gunmen.
The night marauders also razed houses and destroyed properties valued in millions of naira before they were repelled by the military.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the gunmen attack, was however, silent on the casualty figures.
The attackers suspected to be a gang of militiamen had around 10.00 pm Saturday night, stormed the community, and subjected them to reign of terror, shooting indiscriminately as the fear – stricken villagers who were rudely woken from sleep by sporadic gunshots, abandoned their homes and ran for safety in different directions.
Over a dozen of the fleeing villagers were said to have been struck down by bullets from the marauders while many of them also sustained injuries.
Sources said the military prevented what could have turned out to be a worst situation by quickly moving in and repelling the attacks.
The state Commissioner in a statement, titled, ‘Several lives lost in Runji village of Zangon Kataf LGA…El-Rufai condemns killings,’ and released on Sunday, said that preliminary report also informed the state government that the attack left scores of residents injured while an unspecified number of houses were burnt.
The Commissioner quoted the state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to have condemned the renewed attack and condoled with victims’ families during the attack.
He said, “The military has informed the Kaduna State Government of an attack in Runji village, Zangon Kataf LGA, in which several lives were lost on Saturday night.
“The preliminary report further informed the government that the attack also left some residents injured and an unspecified number of houses burnt down in the community.
“According to the report, troops had a fierce encounter with the attackers and are still in the general area.
“While waiting for a detailed report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai who received the preliminary report in the early hours of Sunday has condemned the killings as unacceptable and unjustifiable.
“The Governor condoled the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The Kaduna State Government will update the public on the incident as soon as detailed reports are received from the security agencies.”
