By Ismaila Chafe, Abuja/ Mohammed Tijjani, Kaduna, Dec.19, 2021

The Kaduna State Government says the death toll in an attack by suspected bandits in Giwa Local Government Area of the state on Saturday has risen to 38 from 20.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the new figure in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna.

Aruwan stated that security agencies had confirmed to the Kaduna State government that 38 people were killed across the locations attacked.

“Twenty-nine of the victims have been identified, with nine remaining unidentified as of the time of this update’’ he added.

The bandits also destroyed property worth millions of Naira in the attacks which took place at Kauran Fawa, Marke and Riheya villages in Idasu, Giwa Local Government Area of the state.

Houses, trucks, and cars were burnt, along with agricultural produce on various farms, Aruwan said, pointing out that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, who received the report of the incidents with sadness, had sent condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for divine repose of the souls of the dead.

“The Governor also commiserated with the affected communities and directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to conduct an urgent assessment of the area towards providing relief.

The commissioner said further that security agencies have sustained patrols in the general area.   

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has, on Sunday, condemned renewed banditry in Kaduna State saying that the gruesome nature of Saturday’s killings in Giwa Local Government Area has made him particularly sad and the killings unacceptable.

He made his feelings known in a statement issued in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

Bandits also killed citizens in Zangon Kataf, Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Igabi and Kauru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State within the week.

President Buhari also expressed the nation’s condolences to the Government of Kaduna State, the people of Zonkwa Chiefdom and the family of His Highness Nuhu Bature, the Agwam Kajju on his demise.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

The president affirmed that security forces had turned the heat on terrorists “who are getting frustrated and are soft-targeting innocent citizens, looting their assets, burning their homes and killing them indiscriminately’’.

He reiterated his directive to security and intelligence chiefs to do everything they could to destroy the remaining vestiges of the terrorists, Shehu stated.