The Kaduna State government says attacks by bandits and terrorists, communal clashes, violent attacks, and reprisals between January and March this year have claimed 214 lives.
The state government explained that of the 214 persons killed, 196 were males and 14 females, stressing that 746 others were abducted during the same period.
Samuel Aruwan, the state Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, while presenting the Annual Security Report for 2023 on Wednesday in Kaduna also explained that in the same period, 89 bandits were also killed during engagements with ground forces, military, and police across the state.
According to him, following fratricidal clashes within bandits, five bandits died bringing the number of bandits’ deaths to 94 and scores killed in air strikes.
According to the Commissioner, “Kaduna Central Senatorial District recorded 115 deaths with 108 of them occurring in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun, and Kajuru LGAs. Giwa and Birnin Gwari LGAs each recorded 32 deaths, Chikun LGA 25, Igabi 13, and Kajuru six deaths within the first quarter.”
He added that in Kaduna South Senatorial District, 61 deaths were recorded due to reprisal and communal clashes in Zangon Kataf, and 12 killed in Sanga Local Government Area.
The Commissioner further explained that during the same period, Kaduna North District recorded 38 deaths, with 22 occurring in Zaria LGA, saying that a total of 746 people were kidnapped in the first quarter with Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounting for 492 (about 66% of the total). All of these occurred in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru local government areas.
He explained that in Birnin Gwari and Igabi local government areas, 137 and 131 people were kidnapped, respectively, while in Giwa LGA 100 persons were kidnapped, 83 in Chikun LGA and 41 in Kajuru LGA.
In Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, he explained that 221 persons were kidnapped, with Kachia LGA having 95 persons, Kagarko has 63 people kidnapped and Kauru LGA recorded 46 persons abducted.
In the Northern Senatorial District, he observed that 33 persons were kidnapped, with 17 of these from Lere LGA, pointing out that in all, 254 women and 42 minors were kidnapped in the first quarter across the state
The report, according to the Commissioner, stated that in the 4th quarter of 2022, 246 victims were killed due to deaths linked to banditry and other crimes in the state.
He explained that 280 bandits were killed during engagements with security agencies in the state in the 2022 security report.
