From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
No fewer than 1,266 and 4,973 persons were killed and kidnapped respectively in the last 15 months in various local government areas of Kaduna State.
Presenting the first quarter of 2023 and the entire 2022 security situation in Kaduna State, the State Commissioner for internal security and home affairs Samuel Aruwan on Wednesday said the victims were killed and others kidnapped as a result of banditry, terrorism, violent attacks, reprisals and communal clashes.
Aruwan said in 2022 a total of 1052 were killed, while 4227 were kidnapped.
He said 214 persons were killed between January and March 2023, in attacks by bandits/terrorists, communal clashes, violent attacks, and reprisals.
He said of this total, 14 were women and four were minors, below the age of 18.
According to the Commissioner, “In Kaduna Central Senatorial District, 115 deaths were recorded (54% of the total).
“One hundred and eight (108) of these occurred in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru LGAs.
“Giwa and Birnin Gwari LGAs each recorded 32 deaths, Chikun LGA 25, Igabi LGA 13, and Kajuru LGA six deaths in the first quarter of 2023”
He added that, “Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 61 deaths in the period under review. The pattern of attacks, reprisals, and deadly communal and inter-ethnic clashes – between attacks by bandits – came to play in Zangon Kataf LGA, where 19 people died.
“Twelve (12) persons were killed in Sanga LGA during the first three months of 2023”.
Aruwan further disclosed that, “The Northern Senatorial District recorded 38 people killed in the first quarter, with 22 deaths occurring in Zaria LGA”.
On kidnapping in 2023, he said, “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.
“One hundred and thirty-seven (137) people were kidnapped from Birnin GwariLGA,and131fromIgabiLGA.
Giwa LGA recorded 100 kidnappedpersons, Chikun LGA 83, and Kajuru LGA 41.
“Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 221 kidnapped persons, with Kachia LGA reporting the highest number of 95.
“Sixty-three (63) people were kidnapped in KagarkoLGA,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”.
On cases of rape during the period under review, the Commissioner noted that, “Twelve (12) persons were reported to have been raped by bandits across the State from January to March 2023.
“Ten (10) of these were minors. There are certainly many more unreported cases of rape by armed bandits, and only reported cases are highlighted.
“Five cases were reported in the Northern Senatorial District, comprising four minors.
“Four rape cases were reported from the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, with three victims below the age of 18, adding that, “Three cases were recorded in the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, all minors
Also on those who were injured in the attacks, Aruwan said, “Citizens injured across the state due to banditry, terrorism, violent attacks, reprisals, and communal clashes numbered 116 in total.
“All of these were adults, of which six (6) were women.
“Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounted for 64 of the total injured (around 55%).
“Twenty-three (23) of these occurred in Birnin Gwari LGA, with 16 injured in Chikun LGA, and eight each in Igabi and Kajuru LGAs.
“A total of 36 persons sustained injuries from attacks in the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District.
“Twelve (12) cases occurred in Kagarko LGA and seven each in Kauru and Zangon Kataf LGAs.
“Sixteen (16) persons were injured in Northern Senatorial District, comprising two women”.
On rustling of cattle, he noted that, “a total of 3,247 animals were rustled in the state in the first quarter, with 2,353 stolen from the Kaduna Central Senatorial District,accounting for around 73% of the total.
“Kajuru LGA had the highest figure of rustled animals in the first quarter, with 1,000.
“Southern Kaduna Senatorial District had 864 animals rustled, with almost all of these(862) from Kachia LGA”.
The Commissioner however, disclosed that, “In the first quarter of 2023, a total of 89 bandits were killed during engagements with ground forces (Military and Police) at various locations in the State.
He also added that, “In the first quarter of 2023, gunrunners were intercepted and arrested with large quantities of arms and ammunition recovered from them.
Some of the arms recovered, he said, included 3,680 Rounds of live ammunition, 10 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS) 3 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs).
Aruwan maintained that investigations were being sustained towards dismantling gun-running networks and blocking arms routes into the state”.