The Kaduna State Police commissioner, Austin Iwar, on Sunday confirmed that 45 villagers were killed by armed bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state in a fresh attack on Saturday.
The bandits attacked Gwaska village in Birnin Gwari on Saturday afternoon.
Residents said the killings occurred around 2:30 p.m. when the bandits stormed the village in large numbers on motorcycles. They also burnt many houses in the community.
Confirming the incident, the commission said the police have deployed over 150 personnel to the area as directed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Sunday.
“Yes 45 people were confirmed dead and as we speak the state command have already deployed 150 policemen to the area to provide security,” he said.
“We will also deploy another 200 police officers by next week to help protect lives and property in Birnin Gwari. We are doing everything possible to secure the area,” he said.
On the need for the command to work with local vigilante in the area, Mr Austin said the police is already doing so and will continue to work with them in the area of community policing.
A community leader in Birnin Gwari, who identified himself as Hussaini, said over 40 bodies were brought to emir’s place in Birnin Gwari on Sunday afternoon.
“Some bodies that were seemed to have been burnt were already buried by their love ones at Doka and Mando villages, few kilometres from Birnin Gwari town,” he said.
Following this latest attack, Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Sunday evening announced that the federal government has agreed to deploy a permanent army battalion in the troubled area.
