Three feared dead in fresh Southern Kaduna violence

Three people have been reported killed and several others injured in a fresh unrest at Samaru-Kataf, in Zango Kataf Local Government Area Kaduna State.

This was also as the Emir of Jema’a (Kafanchan), Alhaji Muhammad Isa Muhammad II was attacked by hoodlums same Tuesday night at Samaru-Kataf, destroying three cars in his convoy.

The Nation gathered that violence erupted at about 8:00pm on Tuesday night at Samarun Kataf, few hours after the state security council hSouthern Kadunaad relaxed curfew on the area to 11 hours.

An eyewitness account had it that the attack occurred around 9:30 p.m. at a beer parlour close to Samarun Kataf market.

According to the eye witness who identified himself as Musa Israel, “We heard several gunshots from the direction of a beer parlour close to the market, we at first ran away from the area, but we later realised that three people were killed and their corpses were taken to General Hospital.


“Many other people were injured while running for their dear lives”, Israel said.

The Kaduna Police Command PRO, Aliyu Usman, confirmed the incident but could not confirm the casualty.

Meanwhile, the government had restored a 24-hour curfew on the local government shortly after the violence.

A statement by the state government said, “The restoration of the curfew follows renewed security threats in Samaru-Kataf where the market was attacked by hoodlums. Security forces have taken steps to restore calm and vigorously enforce the curfew”.

On the attack on Emir of Jema’a, The Nation gathered that the attackers destroyed three vehicles including the pilot car while the Emir was returning to Kafanchan from the weekly security council meeting at the Government House in Kaduna.

The Ciroma of Jema’a Emirate, Alhaji Kabiru Tanko, who escaped by the whiskers told newsmen in Kafanchan that, they were attacked around 8:00pm at Samaru Kataf after attending a meeting with the governor.

According to the Chief, “when we reach Samaru Kataf, some armed youths surrounded us with all kind of weapons and started attacking our convoy. We immediately turned back to Kachia for our safety”, he said.

The Ciroma commended Governor El-Rufai’s administration and the federal government for deploying security personnel in Southern Kaduna.

He tasked the government to fully investigate the Southern Kaduna crises holistically, adding that the people behind the crises should be punished without fear or favour.

He also called on both Muslims and Christians in the state to embrace peace, as all religions teach peace, in order to move the state forward.