No fewer than ten people have been reportedly killed on Saturday night, following an attack on Ungwan Wakili, Atyap Chiefdom, Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, by Fulani militias.
Trouble started on Saturday with a misunderstanding between security operatives and a Fulani man at a checkpoint at Ungwan Wakili, which led to the Fulani man and one police officer being shot.
A witness said, “The situation later escalated in the evening when a group of youths went for fishing and were attacked, one person was macheted to death by suspected Fulani militias.”
Another source, who pleaded on anonymity said, “yesterday, 11th March, 2023, at about 4:45PM, I got informed that the security personnel at a checkpoint in Angwan Wakili tried to stop some Fulani men, who were on motorcycle, but they tried to pick a fight with the mobile police officers. One of the officers was hit with a stick by the Fulani and the officer shot one of them on his leg. In retaliation, the Fulani also shot one of the officers, who quickly rushed to the hospital.”
He stated that the suspected Fulani men regrouped and returned to the checkpoint at around 9 to 10PM to open fire on the security personnel.
“But by this time, it was the military that was at the checking point, exchanging fire.
“Over ten bodies have been confirmed dead while four sustained gunshot injuries.”
He said that the immediate intervention of security operatives saved the situation and brought it under control.
“The situation has been brought under control with the presence of security personnel in the area,’ he said.
However, A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on four communities by the Zangon Kataf local government council chairman, Francis Sani, with the sole aim to avert any further breakdown of law and order in the area.
A statement by a Media Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman, Yabo Chris Ephraim on Saturday night said, “A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Ungwan Juju, Mabuhu, Ungwan Wakili and Zangon Urban with immediate effect. This is to allow men of the Nigerian Army to restore peace on that axis.”
However, the spokesperson for the Kaduna Police Command, SP Mohammed Jalige, promised to get back to our correspondent, when contacted.
