35 people died in attacks in Southern Kaduna and Katsina

At least 35 people have been killed in the Kaduna and Katsina states’ Southern Kaduna area.

Out of that number, 17 people, including a police officer, were killed in Zangon-Kataf communities in Southern Kaduna, according to reports.

In the Kankara council area of Katsina State, 18 people were killed.

The Nation found out that trouble started in the Zangon-Kataf area on Thursday when some locals around Ungwan Juju tied a young herder to a tree and killed him.

Our reporter also heard that the situation got worse on Saturday afternoon when security officers and some Fulani men had a misunderstanding at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili, which led to a Fulani man and a police officer being shot.

Later that night, a group of local youths who had gone fishing were attacked, and it was said that one of them was killed with a machete by the herders who were fighting back.

A senior military source in the area told our reporter, “On Thursday of last week, a herder named Umar Sambo was killed near Ungwan Juju in Zangon Kataf LGA while returning from grazing his cattle.”

“When his brother, identified as Safiyanu, could not find him, he reported to the security agencies, who then launched a search operation. His body was finally discovered at Ungwan,” the source said.

He said the tense security situation became compounded on Saturday evening, when there was a clash between security operatives and some Fulani at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili, which led to the death of a Fulani man and a policeman.

According to him, “Ungwan Wakili village of Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf LGA was attacked by unidentified persons around 8:40pm on Saturday, in an apparent reprisal following the killing of the herder.”

He said troops of Operation Safe Haven mobilised to the village to repel the attack, but about 16 to 17 persons were already killed, with seven persons wounded.

“Also worthy of note is that, after after a policeman accidentally shot and injured a herder and a colleague at the checkpoint at Ungwan Wakili Junction, a mob action occurred in Ungwan Wakili.

“While the police evacuated the area, a crowd of locals and herders gathered at the scene, and in the confrontation that followed, one local was killed. Two motorcycles belonging to herders were burnt,” the security source explained.

The local government authorities have imposed a 24-hour curfew in the affected communities to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

In Katsina, 18 villagers were feared  killed on Saturday night in Kankara Local Government Area when suspected terrorists clashed with local vigilantes

Findings revealed that  communities where the clashes occured  include: Majifa, Gurbi, Danmarke, Gidan-Anchor, Gidan- Saika,Dan- Mangoro and Gidan- Sale.

It was learnt that while five people were killed in Gurbi, 13 people were killed at Majifa,Makera and Gidan Jifau settlements.

Many injured persons were being treated at the General hospital,kankara as at yesterday afternoon, it was said.

Police spokesman Gambo Isah said he could only confirm the clash at Majifa, but added that details were sketchy.

(Nation)