308 killed, 746 kidnapped in Kaduna within three months

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

308 killed, 746 kidnapped in Kaduna – Report

A total of 308 persons were killed in Kaduna State between January and March this year.

Kaduna State Government said this in a new report, adding that 214 of the victims were killed by terrorists during attacks on their areas and communal clashes.

It stated that 94 terrorists also died during clashes with security agents or fratricidal clashes within them.

The state government also said 746 other persons were abducted within the same period.

It said the 214 people killed by bandits/terrorists comprised 196 males, 14 females and four minors across the three senatorial districts.

These details are contained in the Annual Security Report for 2023 presented by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday in Kaduna.

The report said 89 bandits were killed during engagements with ground forces, military and police across the state within the period.

It said five bandits died due to fratricidal clashes within them, bringing the number of bandits’ deaths to 94 with scores killed in air strikes.

Kaduna Central Senatorial District recorded 115 deaths with 108 of them occurring in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun, and Kajuru LGAs.

Giwa and Birnin Gwari LGAs each recorded 32 deaths, Chikun LGA 25, Igabi 13, and Kajuru six deaths within the first quarter.

Kaduna South Senatorial District recorded 61 deaths, but most were due to reprisal and communal clashes in Zangon Kataf with 19 deaths and 12 killed in Sanga LGA.
Kaduna North District recorded 38 deaths, with 22 occurring in the Zaria LGA.

A total of 746 people were kidnapped in the first quarter with Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounting for 492 (about 66% of the total). All of these occurred in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru LGAs.

Also, 137 people were kidnapped from Birnin Gwari LGA, and 131 from Igabi LGA.

Giwa LGA recorded 100 kidnapped persons, Chikun LGA 83, and Kajuru LGA 41, the report stated.

Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 221 kidnapped persons, with Kachia LGA reporting the highest number of 95. Sixty-three people were kidnapped in Kagarko LGA, and 46 from Kauru LGA.

The Northern Senatorial District recorded 33 kidnapped persons with 17 of these from Lere LGA.
In total, 254 women and 42 minors were kidnapped in the first quarter across the state.

In the 2023 annual report, 3,247 animals were rustled within the period, with 2,353 stolen from Kaduna Central Senatorial District.

According to the report, 12 rape cases were reported within the period, with two females and 10 minors affected, with only five rape cases reported in the 4th quarter of 2022 security report.

Aruwan also said within the period under review, gunrunners were intercepted and arrested with quantities of arms and ammunition.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to the Federal Government to intensify security operations across the North West.

The governor recalled the military initiated offensive security operations against bandits in the last half of 2022, which helped to improve the security situation in many communities.

He emphasised that the operations must be widened and sustained as the most effective way to protect the people and uphold law and order.

Trends Admin