KADUNA — There was palpable tension in Kaduna State, yesterday, as hundreds of youths protested the alleged killing of six members of a family at Maduachi village in Zonkwa area of Zangon Kataf Local Government in the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The youths carrying green leaves matched through the heart of the town, condemned the killing of the members of the family.
Another eyewitness told Vanguard that the gunmen numbering about 20 invaded the village and shot sporadically into the air for over 30 minutes before entering the family compound of the victims to kill them.
National President of Bajju Youth Association, Gad Ezekiel, in his account said the attackers killed all the members of the same family, leaving behind a little girl with bullet wounds.
Governor Patrick Yakowa of the state, however, condemned the killing, describing it as saddening. Yakowa spoke through his Senior Special Assistant (Media), Mr Reuben Buhari. Maduachi village is about two kilometres from Zonkwa.
…Kill three in Maiduguri
The Kaduna killing came against the backdrop of reports that unidentified gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram Islamic sect, yesterday, trailed three Igbo traders to their respective shops in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State and shot them dead.
The death of the traders in the Bulabulin ward of Biafra area of the state capital, brings to seven, the number of people so far killed in Maiduguri in the last four days.
The Chairman of Zagon Kataf Local Government Area, Mr Dominic Yahaya confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with Vanguard, saying: “The attackers came in the early hours of today (yesterday) and shot the family of one Yakubu Kayit. They killed members of the family and burnt their corpses. A little girl with bullet wounds was the only survivor.
Tension as youths protest
“There was really tension here when the youths came out in large numbers this morning and protested the murder. It was a very tough task calming them down. I am told that the attackers are being trailed. It was indeed a gory sight to see these corpses,” Yahaya said,
Another resident of the area, Emmanuel Danboyi, said the incident allegedly happened at about 11p.m.
He said: “In the day time, we saw a trailer parked but at about 11p.m. when we had gone to bed, we began to hear gun shots for several minutes. By then, I had to evacuate my family to a safe place. Later, we discovered that all the people in the house had been killed and burnt beyond recognition.“
State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Aminu Lawan, while confirming the incident on telephone, said investigation had commenced, adding that no arrest had been made.
Yakowa condemns killings
However, a Government House statement, yesterday, read in part: “The Governor of Kaduna State is truly saddened by the gory incident of Wednesday 14, 2012 in Madauchi, Zangon Kataf Local Government. But even in the face of such unwarranted and deliberate attempt to incite and create chaos, the state government will not be deterred in its quest of ensuring a secured and united Kaduna State.
“The state government, while totally condemning the killing as an act of barbarism, sympathized with the families of the departed, His Highness, the Agwam Bajju, Mallam Nuhu Bature, the Local Government Council and the entire people of the state.
Meanwhile, in the Maiduguri killings, the gunmen stormed the traders’ shops in a tricycle, chanting God is great and started firing gunshots into the air to scare people away.
Vanguard learnt that the Bulabulin ward, facing the eastern flank of popular Maiduguri Monday Market, MMMK, has been condoned off by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, to prevent further attacks and killings.
Ahmadu Bello Way and the Shehuri North road were closed bY JTF, leaving only the Shehu Laminu Way for motorists and pedestrians yesterday in Maiduguri.
Spokesman of the Borno State Police Command, Gideon Jibrin confirmed that there were attacks on some shops in Bulabulin ward of the metropolis yesterday morning adding, that three people were killed in their shops by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.
He said no arrests have been made by either the police or JTF.
Vanguard