How Bandits Killed 1,266, Kidnapped 4,973 in 15 Months in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan has disclosed the total number of deaths and kidnap victims by bandits in 15 months.

Aruwan said at least 1,266 deaths and 4,973 persons were kidnapped across the three senatorial zones of the state.

The Commissioner disclosed this when he presented the first quarterly report of 2023 and the entire 2022 security situation for Kaduna State at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House council’s chamber on Wednesday.

According to him, casualties were victims of banditry, terrorism, violent attacks, reprisals, and communal clashes.

The number of dead victims in 2022 alone was a total of 1,052 persons, while 4,227 persons were kidnapped across the three senatorial zones.

He said:
“Between January to December 2022, 641 deaths were recorded in Kaduna central senatorial zone, while 349 deaths were recorded in Southern Kaduna senatorial zone and 62 deaths in the Northern senatorial zone bringing the total to,1052 deaths as a result of banditry and other attacks.”

For the first quarter of 2023, the commissioner said:

“214 persons were killed between January and March 2023, in attacks by bandits/terrorists, communal clashes, violent attacks, and reprisals.

“In Kaduna Central Senatorial District, 115 deaths were recorded, while, 61 deaths were recorded in Southern Kaduna Senatorial District and 38 deaths in the Northern Senatorial District.

“A total of 746 people were kidnapped in the first quarter, with Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounting for 492 deaths, Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 221 kidnapped persons, and the Northern Senatorial District recorded 33 kidnapped persons.”

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Aruwan listed other cases including rape and cattle rustling.

He said:
“Twelve (12) persons were reported to have been raped by bandits across the State from January to March 2023.

“Ten (10) of these were minors. There are certainly many more unreported cases of rape by armed bandits and only reported cases are highlighted.

” A total of 3,247 animals were rustled in the state in the first quarter, with 2,353 stolen from the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, accounting for around 73% of the total.

“Southern Kaduna Senatorial District had 864 animals rustled, with almost all of these(862) from Kachia LGA.”

All patterns of attacks were reprisals, and deadly communal and inter-ethnic clashes, the Commissioner said.