Gunmen have killed several residents in an attack on Runji community, Zango-Kataf LGA of Kaduna State.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the community around 10pm on Saturday and opened fire on the villagers, most of whom were asleep.
Some of the victims were said to have been burnt alive as the bandits set houses ablaze.
President of the Atyap Community Development Association, (ACDA), Samuel Ache, who confirmed the incident, said 27 people were killed while several others sustained injuries.
It was gathered that the local vigilantes in the community attempted to engage the attackers, but they were subdued.
The military task force was said to have subsequently intervened and repelled the bandits.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who spoke on the incident yesterday but did not state the casualty figure, said “several lives were lost”, adding that preliminary reports indicate that “an unspecified number of houses burnt down”.
He said the Kaduna State government will update the public as soon as detailed reports are received from security agencies.
Zangon-Kataf LGA, situated in southern Kaduna, has come under relentless bandit attacks in recent months. Recall that a few days ago, eight persons were killed when gunmen attacked Atak’Njei community in the LGA.
The Zangon-Kataf local administration council had in March imposed a
24-hour curfew in the LGA after 17 people were killed.
