- 37 killed in Benue, Katsina communities
- Tinubu orders deployment of military battalion to troubled community
- Operation Savanna Shield begins as 78 victims are buried in Woro community
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the deployment of a military battalion to parts of Kwara State following a deadly attack on Kaiama Local Government Area.
According to the House of Assembly member representing the Gwanabe/Gwaria Constituency, Saidu Baba Ahmed, confirmed that 78 residents were killed by the invaders.
Separate attacks were also launched on communities in Benue and Katsina states. Thirty-seven residents were killed in the two states.
Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue) and AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman (Kwara) condemned the attacks in the states.
The Senate demands urgent military action and reliefs for victims of the deadly raids.
It urged security agencies to sustain their onslaught on terrorists and other criminals.
Tinubu’s directive, which also includes the appointment of a Field Commander and the immediate commencement of a military operation tagged: Operation Savanna Shield, was given yesterday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga, in a post on his X handle, @aonanuga1956, said the President’s intervention was aimed at providing immediate relief to affected communities and restoring security in the area.
The post reads: “Help is on the way for the beleaguered people of Kaiama and others as President Tinubu orders the deployment of a military battalion, the appointment of a commander and the start of Operation Savanna Shield.”
The federal action followed a brutal attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, where residents reportedly recovered the bodies of 78 persons killed by armed bandits who invaded the rural settlement on Tuesday.
The victims were buried on yesterday evening after funeral prayers (Janazah) were held around 6:30pm, shortly before the evening (Magrib) prayers.
The lawmaker representing Gwanabe/Gwaria Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Saidu Baba Ahmed, who witnessed the burial rites, confirmed the casualty figures.
He said the deceased included 75 males and three females, adding that 35 residents were abducted and taken into the bush by the attackers.
The launch of Operation Savanna Shield is expected to strengthen federal security presence in the area, stabilise affected communities and prevent further attacks, as residents continue to mourn the victims of the raid.
In Benue, the gunmen attacked the Abande community in Kwande Local Government Area of the state, killing a police officer and farmers. They also destroyed houses.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), attached to 13 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Makurdi, was on special duty in the community, when he was shot dead.
A community leader, Lawrence Akerigba, told The Nation on phone that 17 persons were killed.
It was learnt that on Tuesday, suspected armed herders in large numbers stormed the community and shot indiscriminately at residents.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the mortuary.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Edet Edema, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the attack.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Ifeanyi Emenari, had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations to proceed to Jato-Aka with more Mobile Force personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to track the perpetrators, and effect their arrest.
Alia, who condemned the attacks in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary(CPS), Sir Kulas Tersoo, said the bandits have dared the state and Nigeria security system and must be attended to in the language they understood better.
Sympathising with the families of the victims, the governor assured the people of safety.
The gunmen invaded two communities of Woro and Nuku, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday night, burnt houses and killed scores.
A community leader said many bandits suspected to be hibernating in the forest of the National Park in Borgu, Niger State, invaded the Woro community about 6pm on Tuesday.
In a statement by Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Rafiu Ajakaye, Governor AbdulRazaq confirmed the development and mourned victims, saying that security forces had continued to improve on counterterrorism.
He assured that nothing would tamper with the peace in the state.
Also in Katsina, a gang of armed bandits struck in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing 20 villagers, burning houses, shops, and vehicles and many rendered homeless
Investigation by The Nation showed that the fresh attack took place in the Doma Community, Tafoki, about 4:30pm
The bandits, who were armed with dangerous weapons, including AK-47 rifles, invaded the community five months after the peace deal reached with the bandits, attended by prominent traditional leaders and security personnel.
Chairman of Faskari Local Government Area, Sirajo Daudawa, told The Nation, the incident was a suspected reprisal attack.
He said: “The situation is indeed very unfortunate. We have not recorded any bad moments over the past five months, except for this that we found ourselves.
“We lost at least 20 people. Several houses and vehicles were burnt down by the hoodlums, security agencies were duly informed, but, unfortunately, none of them was able to report to the scene until after the bandits achieved their mission.
“The bodies of the deceased were retrieved at Tafoki, and will be buried tomorrow morning.
“We are sympathising with the Doma community and Tafoki ward, Faskari Local Government Area, and Katsina State people in general over this tragedy. May Almighty Allah have mercy on those killed and bring this to an end.”
The State Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, commiserated with the families and friends of the victims of the deadly armed bandits attack.
Shehu, who also condemned the attack, directed the deployment of additional resources to expedite the investigation and arrest of the perpetrators of the act.
The commissioner, in a statement by the state PPRO, Abubakar Sadiq, said operatives, in collaboration with the military, and members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC), had moved to the scene of the incident.
He said 13 persons were shot by the bandits who escaped the scene before the arrival of the operatives.
Normalcy has been restored to the affected area, investigations into the incident have started, he said.
