Three killed, many injured in fresh attack at Southern Kaduna

Three persons were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen in Samaru-Kataf, Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Tuesday night.

Sources in the area said the attackers struck late in the night, shooting and killing three residents of the area, while injuring many others.

The Kaduna Police Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Usman, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, told our correspondent as of the time of filing this report that he had yet to receive information about the fresh attack.

“I can’t confirm it now. But what I can confirm to you right now is that a 24-hour-curfew has been restored in the area, that is Zango-Kataf Local Government Area,” Aliyu said.

Those injured in the attack were said to have been taken to the St. Louis General Hospital, Zonkwa.

The state government had, on Tuesday, relaxed the 24-hour-curfew imposed on Jema’a, Zango-Kataf and Kaura local government areas.

The Special Assistant to Governor Nasir el-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said the decision was taken by the State Security Council at its 41st meeting.

He said, “Kaduna announces further relaxation of curfew in Jema’a, Kaura, Zangon Kataf LGAs. The Kaduna State Security Council on Tuesday in its 41st meeting reviewed the current security situation in the state.

“The Council deliberated on the security situation in Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas in Kaduna South Senatorial District. Following its assessments of reports from the field, the Security Council relaxed the 24-hour curfew in Kaura local government Area. The curfew is now from 7pm to 6am daily.”

However, following attack on Samaru-Kataf, Aruwan announced the restoration of a 24-hour-curfew on Zango-Kataf Local Government.

He said, “The Kaduna State Government has restored the 24-hour curfew in Zangon-Kataf local government area. A government announcement said the 24-hour curfew is with immediate effect, from tonight, Tuesday, 17 January 2017, until further notice.

“The restoration of the curfew follows renewed security threats in Samaru-Kataf where the market was attacked by hoodlums.”

He added that security forces had taken steps to restore calm and vigorously enforce the curfew in the crisis-ridden area.

Source: The Punch