Curfew in North West Nigeria as bandits kill 83 people

The orgy of killings continued in North West Nigeria when bandits killed more than 83 people, prompting Kaduna state to impose a 24-hour curfew in the Jema’a and Kaura areas on Monday.

While 26 people were killed by bandits in the Mararaban Agban, Agban and Adan areas of Kaura, several others were injured and 70 houses burnt by on March 20.

Also in Zamfara state, bandits killed 37 people and kidnapped 62 others in Juyi and Doruwa villages in Bungudu on Monday. Assailants had killed 20 people in Ganar-Kiyawa village in Bukkuyum on March 19.

The Police command in Zamfara confirmed the killings in the Sunday attack.

Police and the military combing the nearby for the bandits, said command spokesman Muhammad Shehu.

“This is with a view to returning normalcy and apprehending the perpetrators of this bizarre crime,” Shehu said.

He urged residents to share information about the attackers with the government and security agencies.

Authorities in north-west Kaduna said that a curfew had been imposed to enable security agencies to restore law and order, end the killings and prevent reprisals. 

State internal security officials Samuel Aruwan on Monday urged residents to observe the curfew and urged security agencies to enforce it. 

“Following advice from security agencies, the Kaduna state government has declared a 24-hour curfew in Jema’a and Kaura local government areas with immediate effect,” he said. 

“This is to assist the security agencies to stabilise the situation in the areas, save lives and property and enable the restoration of law and order.” 

The killings in Kaduna sparked protests on Monday as irate youths from the affected area blocked roads and attacked travellers.

A bus was set ablaze during the protest as riot policemen fired tear gas to disperse the protesting youths.

Kaduna is grappling with bandits and decades-old communal violence streaming along ethnic and religious lines.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the people of the state to defend themselves in the face of what it described as the government’s failure to defend citizens against attackers.

In a statement signed by its state chairman, Rev John Joseph Hayab, CAN lamented that many people had died in Kaduna in recent years as leaders scarcely showed concern for the victims, only speaking in the media.

“(CAN in Kaduna) is sad and grieving following the continued killings, kidnappings, banditry, and the unimaginable evil going on in our state unabated without any substantial action by the government and security forces,” the group said.

“One only needs to see how human beings are killed and roasted by bandits who attacked Kagoro to conclude that this is one loss too many. How long will this evil continue and when will our leaders act dutifully?

“Kaduna state citizens are tired of the government’s rhetorical responses without concrete action taken to protect lives and property.”