Unidentified gunmen have again invaded Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state, killing 27 persons, mostly women and children.
The latest attack, which was said to have occurred on Saturday around 2.30, had assailants reportedly setting many houses in the affected Gwaska village ablaze.
The attack occurred barely 48 hours after the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 division, Nigerian army, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed, visited the area.
It occurred barely a week after local miners in Janruwa village in the same LGA were slaughtered.
The police IG had promised to immediately deploy 200 additional policemen to the area to forestall further loss of lives and bring the situation under control.
While the assailants have not been identified, TheCable quoted anonymous sources within the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance as saying that they came from Zamfara State.
Daily Trust reported that the displaced are currently taking refuge in Doka district within the LGA.
“Most of those killed are volunteers that tried to defend the village and children that cannot escape the onslaught.
“The vigilantes informed us that the casualties will be more but promised to mobilized tomorrow for evacuation of more casualties.
“We will continue to appeal to authorities to take urgent steps to forestall further attacks and extinction of communities in Birnin-Gwari local government area of Kaduna State,” a resident was quoted as saying.