Kaduna Killings:  Buhari Calls ‘Bandits’ Terrorists As Death Toll Nears 40

 

Despite their modus operandi and subsisting court order to declare them terrorists, criminals killing and maiming Nigerians in some parts of the Northwest and North Central are still officially tagged ‘bandits’ because the presidency and the media have not described them as terrorists.

 

But there was a clear departure from the norm Sunday night when President Muhammadu Buhari was reacting to the Saturday killings in Fawa, Marke and Ruhiya of Idasu Ward of Giwa local Government Area of Kaduna State: He referred to them as ‘’terrorists’’ probably for the first time, in an anger-depicting message he sent through his Media and Publicity aide, Garba Shehu.

 

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan had, on Sunday, said that some bandits had invaded three communities in the Giwa Local Government Area of the state killing at least 20 people, including a traditional ruler. The attackers also razed houses and vehicles.

 

The Commissioner later said the death toll in the terrorist attacks rose to 38

 

Aruwan updated the casualty numbers in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna.

 

Aruwan stated that security agencies had confirmed to the State government that 38 people were killed across the locations attacked.

 

“Twenty-nine of the victims have been identified, with nine remaining unidentified as of the time of this update,’’ he said.

 

Bandits Kill Army Captain, Two Others In Kaduna

The statement, which Shehu issued Sunday night condemned the ‘’gruesome” incident, saying that the renewed terrorist killings in the State was ‘’unacceptable.’’ According to President Buhari, ‘’the gruesome nature of recent incidents in Kauran Fawa, Marke and Ruhiya of Idasu Ward of Giwa Local Government Area, has made him particularly sad and the killings unacceptable.’’

 

He noted that ‘‘Bandits within the week have also killed citizens in Zangon Kataf, Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Igabi and Kauru LGAs of Kaduna State,’’ and expressed the nation’s condolences to the Government of Kaduna State, the people of Zonkwa Chiefdom and the family of His Highness Nuhu Bature, the Agwam Bajju on his demise.

 

Shehu said that the President prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and ‘’affirmed that our security forces have turned the heat on the terrorists who are getting frustrated and are soft-targeting innocent citizens, looting their assets, burning their homes and killing them indiscriminately. He has reiterated his directive to the security and intelligence chiefs to do everything they can to destroy the remaining vestiges of the terrorists.’’