Troops arrest five suspected killers of herdsman in Kaduna

Troops of the Operation Thunder Strike have arrested five suspected killers of a herdsman in Atyap Chiefdom, Zango- Kataf local government area of Kaduna State.

The state’s Commissioner for Security and Homeland Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed this in a statement, said three suspects were arrested on Sunday and two others on Monday morning.

He said the troops told the state government that the herdsman was killed while grazing at Matyei village in the Zango-Kataf LGA.

According to him, the troops responded to a distress call from the village on the destruction of a farm on Sunday and discovered that the herdsman Ado Hassan, had been shot dead by unknown persons when they arrived at the scene.

The suspects arrested by the troops are David Kure, Peter Adamu, Bulus Duniya, Matthew Peter and Yohanna Chawai.

The commissioner urged the citizens to eschew violence in the state.

He also charged the troops to conduct further investigations into the killing.

Recall that the Kaduna State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), had accused residents of Zangon Kataf local government area in the southern part of the state of killing one of its members as well as poisoning some of their cattle.

A statement by the state Director, Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Bayero-Zango, alleged that some members of the Kataf Militia had, on Friday, December 31, killed an herdsman and also poisoned some cattle belonging to another herdsman identified as Fada.

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The statement reads:

“On Friday, being New Year’s day, some Kataf Militias killed one of our members and also poisoned some cattle belonging to one Fada in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State.

“We have been made to understand that they are presently using some poisoned substance and inject it into oranges and keep the oranges where the cattle are grazing. Immediately a cow eats the orange and drinks water, the poison kills the cow instantly.

“They have been doing this for a long time but would turn around to blame herdsmen whenever they react in self defence.

“We want the government to take this issue very seriously as we will no longer sit back and watch our members killed while their means of livelihood is being threatened.”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Home Affairs and Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, has confirmed the killing of the herder whose name was given as Ado Hassan.

In a statement, Aruwan said security operatives informed the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the herder was killed while grazing at Matyei village.

In the statement, Aruwan said:

“Troops responded to a report of a farm destroyed in the village on Sunday afternoon, and arrived at the scene to discover that a herder, one Ado Hassan, had been shot dead by unknown persons.”

Aruwan added that investigations led to the arrest of five suspects whose names were given as David Kure, Peter Adamu, Bulus Duniya, Matthew Peter and Yohanna Chawai.

“The Governor has expressed his dismay at the killing of the herder and has sent his condolences to his family while praying for the repose of his soul,” Aruwan added.

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