At least 17 persons have been reportedly killed by herdsmen militia in a retaliatory attack in Ungwan Wakili, Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
Ungwar Wakili is said to be the home of the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate for next Saturday’s election, Mr. Jonathan Asake.
The attack which occurred at about 7 p.m on Saturday was said to have been executed by a large contigent of gunmen.
The Zangon Kataf Local Government Area Council has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Ungwan Wakili, Ungwan Juju, Mabuhu, and Zangon Urban with immediate effect to forestall the break down of law and order.
Yabo Ephraim, Special Assistant (Media) to the council chairman, announced this in a statement on Saturday night.
“This is to allow men of the Nigerian Army to restore peace on that axis”, the statement said.
The Police in Kaduna State on Sunday confirmed the Saturday night attack.
SP Muhammad Jalije, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday, that the attack occurred at 20:40hrs in Ungwan Wakili.
“I can confirm that there was an attack, and people were killed, but we are yet to ascertain the exact number of those killed.”
Jalije said prior to last night’s attacks, the police had been managing the security situation in the area, following the killing of a herder in the bush four days ago.
“Before the attacks, there was something we have been managing for four days now.
“One boy was killed in the bush while rearing his animals, and we have been on top of the situation before this unfortunate incident,” he added
Sources, however, told NAN that the killing of the herder might not be unconnected with the latest attacks.