Southern Kaduna Crisis: Gunmen kill 3, injure 5, as El-Rufai shuts down Zangon Kataf

Some suspected herdsmen have killed 3 people in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, in Southern Kaduna

- The the armed herdsmen open fire at a busy market, leaving 5 people injured

- Following the shooting, Governor El-Rufai has a 24-hour curfew

Suspected armed herdsmen opened fire in Samaru Kataf, a busy market in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna, on the evening of Tuesday, January 17, killing three and injuring five.

Following the shooting, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has ordered a 24-hour curfew.

Vanguard reports that on Tuesday night, as traders were about going home from the busy Samaru market, about 180 kilometres South of Kaduna city, three men got down from a motor bike, walked to a corner of the market popular with youths and opened fire at them.

Southern Kaduna Crisis: Gunmen kill 3, injure 5, as El-Rufai shuts down Zangon Kataf

What survivors say

Christopher Yakubu, one of the injured, who spoke from Gwatyap hospital yesterday, said: “I was going to get a message from my friend, who was just a few metres away. I felt something hit me in the leg, and then I heard gunfire all over the place.

“I fell but cannot say how many people were shooting; but it continued for some minutes. People ran for cover. I was left in the pool of my blood. By the time I was assisted out of the market, three of us were dead. I was lucky; I was shot in the leg.”

The victims were said to be in their early twenties and all males from different Atyap villages. The attackers left on their bike, firing as they zoomed off on the road to Mayayit village.

They were not caught despite the heavy presence of police and soldiers that had been stationed in Samaru Kataf before Christmas. Also injured were Gabriel Ayok, Bukam Waje, Aminu Basaki abd Samaila Kude.

The doctor, who pleaded that the hospital should not be mentioned for security reasons, said that Kude was exceptionally lucky. He said that a bullet knocked off one of his ribs and deflected to an angle away from his liver, leaving the bone hanging on a thread of ligament.

Speaking to Vanguard after the visit, the traditional ruler of Atyap Chiefdom said: “This is very sad and unfortunate. I have nothing to say other than to commend the timely arrival of the police.

“I also call on all my people, both at home and outside, to please remain calm. The youths should not be provoked into taking the law into their hands.

“We should cooperate with the law enforcement bodies to ensure that peace and security is maintained in Atyap land.”

The Curfew

Zangon Kataf council was virtually shut, yesterday, as police vans blocked strategic entry and exit points on the Federal roads that run through the council to other parts of the state and the country.

The curfew In Samaru Kataf, where the violence occurred, all residents were seen sitting in front of their homes with heavy barricades placed at intervals to stop vehicular movements.

“By 1p.m. yesterday, police moved into Zonkwa, the commercial hub of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area and ordered everyone outside to return home or face their wrath.

Several vehicles were trapped in the local government in response to a 24-hour curfew imposed by Governor Nasir el-Rufai and relayed to the public through his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan.

Aruwan said that the 24-hour curfew was with immediate effect, “from tonight, Tuesday, 17 January until further notice.”

He explained that “the restoration of the curfew follows renewed security threats in Samaru-Kataf where the market was attacked by hoodlums. “Security forces have taken steps to restore calm and vigorously enforce the curfew.”

Samaru Kataf is in Samaru District of Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf council.

The traditional ruler of Zangon Kataf, Gwatyap of Atyap Chiefdom, Mr Dominic Yahaya, who visited the injured in hospital, described the situation as “sad and unfortunate” and appealed for calm.