Two herders’ communities, Zauru and Kurdan, have been razed in Kaduna State’s Zangon Kataf Local Government Area following Sunday’s attack, which killed 34 people and destroyed 230 houses.
According to a statement by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the Chairman of Zangon Kataf, Francis Sani Zimbo, convened an emergency security meeting with traditional and community leaders in response to the incident.
He said 3 bodies were discovered in both the Kaura and Jema’a local governments, bringing the overall recorded death toll from Sunday’s attacks to 37.
He revealed that on Monday, the Fountain of Life Baptist Church in Kafanchan was attacked, while a bus belonging to the Baptist School of Health Technology in Kafanchan was also attacked and vandalized.
The bus driver, Mr Bamaiyi, received machete cuts and is being treated in a facility, according to the statement.
The statement further said that Governor Nasiru El-Rufa’i received the reports with deep regret and he sent condolences to the victims’ families while urging herders to let the government handle the situation.
Nigeria mourns
A statement issued by President Muhammadu Buhari described the attack as “a senseless act of violence that has no place in a civilized society.”
He said, “the primitive and cowardly attacks on innocent civilians, law enforcement officials, and the destruction of houses and shops, are extremely painful and condemnable”.
The President said the nation mourned with the Kagoro community, and the military, which lost their compatriots.
He stated that he was closely monitoring the actions of the Kaduna State Government and security agencies, who are tracking down and bring the assailants to justice.
He cautioned against reprisals that could result in greater violence.
Reporting by Aminu Dalhatu and Abdullah Bello; editing by Muzha Kucha and Saadatu Albashir