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Herdsmen killing spree persists, 11 killed in Kaduna, 2 villages burnt

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Fulani Herdsmen reign of terror continued in Kaduna State, as no fewer than 11 persons were killed when they attacked two villages, near Godogodo town in the Jema’a Local Government Area on Monday and Tuesday.
The villagers claimed that the two villages were razed by the herdsmen.
The Kaduna State Police Command Spokesman, Aliyu Usman, however said the villages were partially burnt, adding that the police were fully on ground and had restored law and order in the affected communities.
In the first village, Gada Biyu, the herdsmen were said to have killed nine people including six men and three women while two men were killed in Akwa’a, the second village.
Reacting to the carnage, the state Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, expressed sadness over the attacks, noting that killings under whatever guise remained condemned.
El-Rufai said: “The Kaduna State Government condemns the murders that were perpetrated by criminal elements that attacked our communities in Gida Biyu, Akwa’a and Angwan Anjo in Jema’a Local Government Area. The Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, extends his condolence to the survivors and the families of the victims.”
Speaking on the incident, a community leader, who does not want to be named, said the herdsmen came back after the police and security operatives had left to burn down the villages.
He said: “When they came to Gada Biyu on Monday morning and killed people, they only burnt part of the village, before the police arrived. At Akwa’a, they could not burn the place, because the police allowed the native youths to join them in chasing out the herdsmen who were over a hundred and well-armed. In the same way, Anguwan Anjo was saved.
“The Police were in Anguwan Anjul, but left later in the night. Just as we suspected, the Fulani re-entered our villages and burnt them down. Fortunately, we had all left. There are about 1000 houses in Anguwan Anjo where I come from. Gada Biyu and Kwa’a are smaller villages but they have hundreds of houses there too. All now lie in ruins.
“This is the height of the rainy season, and we cannot return home. They have become much more violent since they were told that our lands are part of the Sanga Grazing Reserves.”
By Timothy Enietan-Matthews

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