Bandits on Thursday attacked farmers at Rafin Sarki village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 12 and injuring three others.
A politician in the community, Sambokhan Giwa, who confirmed the incident to The Sun Newspaper on Friday.
He said trouble started when bandits demanded levies from farmers who were harvesting their farm produce.
According to him, the farmers resisted which provoked the armed bandits and by the time the dust settled, 12 farmers were left dead and three others injured.
“It is true. They attacked a village called Rafin Sarki not in Giwa town but in Giwa local government.
“They killed 12 people and injured three others,” he said.
“The people of the area were clearing their farm produce when the bandits came to collect money from them so they can ‘allow’ them to finish their farming activities.
“But the farmers refused to give them the money they demanded. From there, the thing started,” Giwa added.
He further added that the three survivors of the attack are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital while the bodies of the victims were laid to rest Friday morning.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.
He said four other persons were also killed in attack by bandits in Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government areas of the state.
“On a sad note, the Kaduna State Government has sent its deepest commiserations to families of several victims who were killed in attacks by bandits in Giwa, Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government areas,” the statement read.
“The Government was informed by security agencies that bandits attacked Rafin Sarki in Giwa LGA, with 11 locals confirmed killed,”
He identified the victims as: Abdullahi Musa, Adamu Musa, Aminu Nasiru, Adamu Ibrahim, Yau Usman Ladan, Yunusa Saidu, Salisu Abdulrahman, Fati Usman, Yakubu Ya’u, Marwanu Ibrahim and one unidentified person.
“Similar briefings revealed that Cibiya and Karamai communities in Kufana, Kajuru LGA were attacked by bandits and two people were killed, identified as: Idon Bonos, Aston Namaskar. Several persons were left injured.
“Furthermore, bandits killed two people in Damari, Birnin Gwari LGA.
“The victims are identified as: Salisu Mai Tireda and Mohammed Maikaba
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed deep sadness at these reports, and sent his heartfelt sympathy to the families of the slain victims, while praying the repose of their souls.
“The Governor prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
” The Government is engaging the security forces on these developments and other fronts.”
