Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna
Some bandits, on Saturday, reportedly raided a mining site at Janruwa Village, Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 14 miners and injuring many others.
Birnin-Gwari, a few kilometres from the Kaduna metropolis, is a gateway to the south-western part of Nigeria and had been under severe attacks by bandits, mostly cattle rustlers, kidnappers and other criminal elements.
The Saturday attack came only weeks after 11 soldiers were killed by bandits in the area in March.
It was gathered that the bandits, who stormed the mining site in their hundreds riding on motor bikes, opened fire on everyone in sight.
The exact number of people killed could not be ascertained. While some said 40 miners were killed, a source told our correspondent that only 14 people died with about 30 others injured.
The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, Austin Iwar, confirmed the attack but was silent on the number of those killed.
He said the police had yet to confirm the casualty figure but were on top of the situation.
A source told our correspondent that the bandits, after killing the miners, burnt their bodies beyond recognition.
“The attack occurred between 12pm and 1pm on Saturday. The bandits, in their hundreds on bikes, stormed the mining site at Janruwa and opened fire on anybody in sight.
“Over 40 persons were attacked. No fewer than 14 are feared dead. It was a gory scene. The bandits, after shooting and killing, burnt the dead beyond recognition.
“This is coming after last month’s killing of 11 soldiers deployed to keep peace in Birnin-Gwari.
“We thought that after the visit of the Federal Government’s delegation, led by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau, the situation would be calm,” the source said.
Though the reasons for the attack were not clear, sources said the bandits were on a revenge mission over the killing of their gang members by the local vigilance group.
It was gathered that no fewer than seven corpses were deposited at the Jibril Maigwari General Hospital mortuary while more than 13 people with gunshot injuries were being treated at the same hospital.
The source said while the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways and adjoining villages were relatively peaceful, the Birnin-Gwari-Funtua Road and the eastern part of the local government had continued to be under attacks by bandits.
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