From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
Unidentified gunmen suspected to be terrorists terrorising parts of Kaduna State have allegedly attacked a community called Junction Maro in Kajuru Local Government area of the state, killed 13 persons, and abducted a woman.
They also maimed about 10 persons who are currently receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals outside the area.
An unofficial but credible source told newsmen on Friday that the 13 victims had been given mass burial in the community on Thursday, May 30 while the fate of the abducted woman is unknown.
Maro political ward in Kajuru has survived several attacks including the recent one where about 80 persons were kidnapped though the majority of them have returned after an undisclosed amount and other items were given as ransom.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, was yet to confirm or otherwise the incident at the time of sending this report.
The reason for the attack could not be immediately established, but a source in the area hinted that it may not be unconnected to anger of a group of people who were ostracised from the Maro community over suspicions that they were responsible for the incessant attacks in the area ab initio.
According to the source, the quagmire that led to that development happened before the coming of President Bola Tinubu and the incumbent Governor, Uba Sani.
“God please help us. You could recall that the community and Kaduna in general were relatively peaceful for a few months into the administration of President Tinubu.
“But since the attackers resumed their nefarious activities some months ago, the Maro ward has suffered severely in terms of loss of lives and property as well as ransom payment.
“The truth is that you don’t hear of some of these attacks because people are tired. They report and it happens again.
“Again, the current governor, Uba Sani has a human face. At least, he empathizes with his people and even the attackers understand that he wants a peaceful Kaduna.
“However, Mr. Governor can still do more by reaching out to the people in communities in Maro because they know their attackers and where they live.
“The communities too must be ready to provide intelligence to trusted security agents and at the same time, ready to look inward and resolve the matter amicably.
“I was at the burial yesterday and I can tell you the people of the affected community are frustrated, angry, and tired of the whole thing.
“Or, how do we describe a scenario when they just launched an attack in broad daylight, killed 13 persons, and went away with a woman?’, the source queried.