Anthony Iwuoma
The rising spate of insecurity recorded yet another wanton destruction of lives at the weekend, leaving no fewer than 24 persons dead in different parts of the country.
The dead included five policemen in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Ward Head, 80-year-old woman and two others in a separate attack by bandits.
Also, cultists killed four persons in Bakassi, while members of the late Gana, killed three in a community in Benue State and also torched many houses.
Apart from a Catholic priest, who was killed in Niger State, the bandits’ reign of terror also consumed four policemen in the state, while one policeman is still missing in the attack.
It was also learnt that a soldier also reportedly died during a brawl over prostitutes in Borno State.
The first bandits’ attack in Kaduna left five policemen dead in Farinuwa area, near Giwa Local Government Area. Spokesman of Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the killing.
According to the chairman of Birni-Gwari Emrate Progressive Union, BEPU, the policemen were on routine duty when they were attacked by the bandits.
In another attack, bandits killed an octogenarian, a woman, ward head and others at Sharu village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that the armed bandits invaded the village and raided several homes, adding that the sporadic shooting by the bandits resulted in the death of the 80-year-old woman, Hauwa Umaru, who was hit by a stray bullet, killing her instantly.
The commissioner revealed that the bandits also killed the ward head of Konti, Samaila Yohanna, and two others, including Alhaji Sani and Malam Dande in Chikun Local Government Area.
Similarly, Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, in a statement by Force Headquarters, said four police officers attached to Operation Puff Adder and deployed to Niger State were killed in exchange of gunfire with the bandits.
“Contrary to unconfirmed reports in some sections of the media which stated that eighteen officers were kidnapped, only 16 officers were attacked in the ambush.
“The officers successfully repelled the attack accordingly and neutralised the bandits in their tens, while many of the bandits scampered into the bush with gunshot injuries. Regrettably, four of the officers paid the supreme price during the exchange of gun fire between the Police and the bandits while an officer is still missing,” Mba said in the statement.
