Family Of Six Burnt In Midnight Attack

The police in Kaduna have launched an investigation into the killing of six members of a family during a midnight attack on a village in Zangon-Kataf area of Kaduna state.

Eyewitness accounts said that unidentified gunmen invaded the Madauchi community in that area at about 11.30 pm on Wednesday and started shooting sporadically after which they surrounded the house of one Yakubu Kiyat and set it ablaze, roasting the family of six to death.

Confirming the incident, Zangon-Kataf local government Chairman, Gambo Dominic Yahaya, said that, “an attack took place at Madauchi, near Zonkwa, early this morning during which six people were shot and killed.

“A building was set ablaze and five members of one family were burnt beyond recognition. One other person was also brought out dead but his body was not burnt.”

He noted that the invaders numbering about 10 disappeared into the bush after the attack.

A resident of the area, Emmanuel Danboyi, said that, “in the day time, we saw a trailer parked but at about 11pm when we had gone to bed, we began to hear gun shots for several minutes. 

“I had to evacuate my family to a safer place and we discovered later that all the people in the house had been burnt even beyond recognition.”

Some other residents noted further that the attackers operated for about 30 minutes and that there was no response from security personnel manning a checkpoint close to the scene of the incident.

A cross section of youth from the area matched to the streets yesterday morning protesting the killing and demanded immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the area.

They contended that if the soldiers cannot intervene during such attacks, then there was no need for their continued presence.

One of the protesters, Bala Samaila, said, “the military have no business being here if they cannot protect us. They should go. We can protect ourselves.”

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Aminu Lawan, said that, “yes, we are aware of the incident at Maduachi village and investigation is on-going.” 

In his reaction, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa described the attack and killing as barbaric.

A statement by Yakowa’s Special Adviser (Media), Reuben Buhari, said that, “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State is truly saddened by the gory incident of Wednesday 14th 2011 in Madauchi, Zangon Kataf local government.

“More saddening is the fact that this incident came when more concerted effort by this government, through the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, is being made to entrench lasting and sustainable peace in Kaduna state.

“But even in the face of such unwarranted and deliberate attempt to incite and create chaos, the state government will not be deterred in its quest of ensuring a secured and united Kaduna state.

“Government, while totally condemning the killing as an act of barbarism, sympathizes with the families of the departed, His Highness, the Agwam Bajju, Mallam Nuhu Bature, the local government council and the entire people of the state.

“I urge us all to take comfort and strength from the fact that this loss is shared by many who truly care for them and may that give us the courage to face our tomorrow with the hope that peace will find a permanent abode within our state soonest.”