Kaduna Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has declared a 24-hour curfew in Jema’a and Kaura local government areas.
The declaration followed the reported attack on Southern Kaduna communities by gunmen on Sunday night.
No fewer than 15 persons were said to have been killed during the attack in Kaura alone.
A source from Kaura reported the gunmen on Sunday night attacked Agban Kagoro, Kaura local government area of Kaduna state and killed about 15 people.
The source could not however ascertain the number of people injured and houses razed.
The source said: “I was able to count and get about 15 people killed. There is the likelihood that there are those killed in their houses while others could have died in the buses as a result of gun wounds they sustained.”
He added that he could not get the number of those injured and the houses burnt by the attackers, saying that the destruction made was so terrifying.
According to him: “The destruction made by the attackers last night (Sunday) is so terrifying as the gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias came in their large numbers and well organised. They came with sophisticated weapons and carried out their acts of destroying both lives, houses and property of the natives.”
El-Rufai, in a statement on Monday through the Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the 24-hour curfew was to enable the security agencies stabilise the situation in the affected communities.
According to him: “Following advice from security agencies, the Kaduna State Government has declared a 24-hour curfew in Jema’a and Kaura local government areas with immediate effect.
“This is to assist the security agencies to stabilise the situation in the areas, save lives and property and enable the restoration of law and order.
“The security agencies have full authorization to enforce the curfew. Government appeals to all residents of Jema’a and Kaura local government areas to cooperate with the security agencies in the urgent task of restoring peace and upholding law and order.
“Government condemns the violence and all acts of lawlessness that have occurred in the area. Further updates will be issued as necessary.”