As Nigeria continues to grapple with religious terrorism especially in the northern part of Nigeria, again three people have been killed in separate attacks by bandits in Kamantan and Sabon Kaura communities in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Both incidents were said to have occurred on Thursday night.
In Kamantan, the bandits were said to have invaded the residence of the Catholic Parish priest, killing a seminarian serving in the parish. A resident of the area said in a telephone interview that the bandits came in a large number and wanted to kidnap the parish priest.
He said the priest, alongside his colleague, were able to escape from the house. However, the seminarian could escaped as the bandits had already entered the house and he ran to hide in the toilet. He said the community mobilised to repel the attack, killing one of the criminals in the process.
However, angered by the killing of their colleague, the bandits set the residence ablaze and the seminarian who was hiding in the toilet was burnt to ashes.
According to the resident, “The bandits came in the night to kidnap the Parish priest in Kamantan. The priest and his colleague were able to escape from the house, but a seminarian serving in the parish ran to hide in the toilet within the compound when he could not escape from the house.
“The community immediately mobilised to repel the bandits and one them was killed. The bandits were angry over the killing of their colleague, and they set the parish house ablaze and as a result, the seminarian who was hiding in the toilet was burnt to ashes.”
In Sabon Kaura, it was gathered that Fulani herdsmen destroyed a farm belonging to a resident of the community. Sources said the herdsmen were caught in the act, and the matter was reported to the community leader who summoned them.
The source said, after the herdsmen admitted to the crime, they agreed to pay the fine imposed by the community leader to compensate the owner of the farm. However, the herdsmen were alleged to have mobilised and launched an attack on the community on Thursday night, killing two people.
Mansir Hassan, acting spokesperson of the Kaduna State police command said he was at a meeting when contacted on telephone. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has condemned the attack.
In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, Rev. Joseph Hayab, state chairman of the association, said the attack was disheartening. He said, “What is disheartening about this particular attack is the fact that the place of attack is just by the Kaduna – Kafanchan major highway with a military check point not far from the Parish.
“The Parish is located at the heart of Kamantan town, and the attack was carried out at about 8:00pm. This caused us to wonder some more, where is the hope, how much more terrible could the situation get?”
The CAN chairman called on the state government and all relevant stakeholders to immediately swing into action and ensure that those responsible for the attack are apprehended and made to face the law.
