No fewer than 20 people have been killed by gunmen following an attack on Chibuak and Kigudu II communities in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

The two villages were said to have been attacked consecutively on Thursday and Friday at midnight while some of the villagers were said to be missing.

It was gathered that the bandits launched another attack on Saturday on Kigudu II where the villagers were preparing for a mass burial for some of the victims who are Catholics.

The bandits were however repelled by security personnel and the burial was quickly done without the usual rites.

Parish Priest of Damakasuwa Outstation, Mr Aaron Tanko, who oversees the two communities, confirmed to newsmen that 20 persons were killed while some others were still missing.

He said in Chibuak village, nine people were killed, while 11 were killed in Kigudu II.

According to him: “The attacks took place on Thursday and Friday at midnight. Chibuak was attacked on Thursday and nine people were killed.  They attacked Kigudu II on Friday night and killed 11 people.

“Some people are still missing, so I cannot conclusively say this is the casualty figure. Some of those killed are my parishioners, others are protestants.

“We were preparing for the mass burial for our Parishioners this morning (Saturday) in Kigudu II but we could not do it when the herdsmen came attacking us again.

“But they were repelled by the security personnel. Nobody was killed or injured.

We couldn’t even conduct proper mass burial, we just offered simple prayers and they were buried.

“Many of our villagers are at the mercy of Fulani herdsman. They are always well-armed and they invade our communities and kill people at will.

“There are villages where people cannot even go to their farms for fear of being killed by herdsmen. We appealed to the government to address these incessant attacks on our communities and killings by herdsmen,” the clergyman said.

Kaduna State Police Command PPRO, Mr Mohammad Jalige said, he would get information on the incidents when contacted.

The Nation