Kaduna State Government says 12 people were killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in Peigyim village, Atyap chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area just as no fewer than four persons were abducted along Ayetoro Ekiti-Otun Ekiti Road in Ekiti State when gunmen waylaid some travellers.
The victims, according to local sources, were said to have been ferried into the bush by the gunmen.It was also gathered the incident involved two buses conveying passengers from the Otun Ekiti.
The assailants were said to have succeeded in holding four persons while others escaped by the whiskers. A source says one of those who escaped said the gunmen took away four passengers from the two buses.
Another source said local hunters were called that some kidnappers were operating along Ayetoro-Otun Road, adding, “but before they got there, the gunmen had piloted two buses into the bush. At that point, we cannot say the number of people taken into the forest, but the buses were there.
“I advised the hunters and the security agents who arrived the scene later that the kidnappers would have gone towards the Otun end and that they would not have gone far that time. Definitely, they were the ones who operated along Ayetoro-Ewu Road on Sunday evening. The Sunday operation was not successful and that was why they waited around to carry out this one.”
Spokesman for the Nigeria Police, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, while confirming the incident said, “we heard the information and we have deployed our personnel there. There was a kidnap incident this morning. It began on Sunday evening when some suspected robbers attacked a man who the police thereafter rescued.
“But this morning, we learnt that the suspects were the ones who abducted some road users. The police are on their trail.”
However, Kaduna’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, gave the names of the victims as Philbia Yusuf, Suzanna Ezekiel, Rahib Alex, Ishaku Bamaiyi, Deborah Ishaku, Tinat Bamaiyi, Zichat Kefas, Sunday Daniel, Hauwa Gabriel, Fedelia Famson, Sadia Donald and Goodness Kefas.
Aruwan said the state government received the report that the assailants stormed the village late on Sunday evening, pointing out, “two other residents were injured and are receiving treatment. Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed profound grief at the report of another deadly incident in the area.
Adding, he said Governor El-Rufai “sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims slain in the mindless and gruesome attack, and prayed for the repose of their souls”, and that the governor also wished the injured residents a quick recovery.
Meanwhile, the commissioner has assured that security agencies will sustain patrols in the area, as investigations into the incident progress.
