By www.newsdigest.ng
Reports reaching News Digest indicate thatat least 40 villagers have been killed by armed bandits who stormed Janruwa community in Birnin-Gwari area of Kaduna State.
A statement by Birnin-Gwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance claimed that the victims were mostly local miners and villagers.
It is alleged that the armed bandits encircled Janruwa community on Saturday afternoon and opened fire from several locations.
The bandits also burnt the bodies of their victims beyond recognition.
Some of the corpses have been deposited in the mortuary at Jibril Maigwari General Hospital at Birnin-Gwari, while the seriously injured victims have been referred to other hospitals in Kaduna due to the severity of the gunshots.
Some villagers claimed that the Armed bandits were on a revenge mission after the killing of their gang members by local vigilantes.
While Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways and adjoining villages are relatively quiet from the attacks of armed bandits, Birnin-Gwari-Funtua road and Eastern part of the local government witnessed attacks, abduction and incessant killings by armed bandits.
Meanwhile, a source in Birnin Gwari told Premium Times that his in-law was among the dead.
“My in-Law, Magaji Danjuma, was among the miners killed. They were doing their mining business in the forest near old Birnin Gwari town when the bandits attacked them.
“My in-law’s body was set ablaze by his killers while their remains was brought to Birnin Gwari town for burial,” he said in a phone interview.
Mr Magaji’s father was a retired police inspector in the area.
He has since been buried, according to Islamic rites.
The State Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation.
He said the command is working to ascertain the actual figure of people killed.
He described the killings as very unfortunate.
“Of course, there was an incident there and some people were killed. It’s very unfortunate,” he said.
The commissioner said the police will investigate before releasing the statement on the actual number of people killed.
Birnin Gwari has suffered several attacks by armed bandits leading to the death of scores of people including soldiers and police officers.