The Kaduna State government has condemned in the strongest terms the attack by armed bandits on a place of worship yesterday morning in Manini village, Chikun local government area of the State.
This is contained in a statement by the State’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
According to him, “Security agencies reported to the Government that armed bandits attacked congregants at Haske Baptist Church, Manini, at about 9:30am, and killed a worshipper, Zechariah Dogonyaro. According to the report, about four worshippers were abducted from the church. One resident, Shehu Mainika was injured in the general area by the bandits.
“In other reports received from security agencies, armed bandits invaded Bagoma village, in Birnin-Gwari LGA and killed six persons, listed as: Bala Gwamna, Kasage Ali, Mai Jakki, Makeri Kugu, Haruna Kawu and Ali Agaji. One person, Salisu Gwamna; the older brother of the deceased Bala Gwamna, was injured in the attack.
Also reported was an attack by armed bandits at Amfu village, in Kachia LGA, in which one Rahila Dauda was shot dead.
In another incident, the partially burnt corpse of a seven-year-old, Abubakar Sarki Musa was found in an uncompleted building in Hayin-Danmani area, Rigasa, in Igabi LGA. One Saddique Umar, an 18-year-old resident of the area, confessed to killing him, after luring the boy into the deserted building in a bid to steal a phone placed in his possession.
Aruwan said the State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, has roundly denounced the attack on the church in Chikun LGA, describing it as a shocking act of depraved persons far-removed from humanity, adding that attacking innocent worshipers who were exercising their natural and lawful right to assemble in worship, represented the worst kind of evil.
“El-Rufa’i sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Haske Baptist Church and prayed for the repose of the souls of the slain in all the attacks. He also wished the injured victim a speedy recovery”, the statement said.
