Kaduna State government says 1192 people were killed as a result of banditry incidences and violence attacks across the state from January to December in 2021.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan announced this while presenting security report for the fourth quarter of 2021 and the 2021 annual report on security to governor Nasiru El-Rufai at Government house Kaduna.
Mr Samuel Aruwan explained that, the 2021 annual report covers banditry, kidnapping, rape perpetrated by armed bandits, cattle rustling, communal and violent attacks as well as reprisal attacks.
He said out of the number of people killed, 1038 were male, 104 female while fifty were minors.
Aruwan noted that, 891 people were also injured as a result of various attacks across the state while 3348 people were kidnapped within the year.
According to the Commissioner, 13788 animals were rustled by bandits and other criminals operating in the state, stressing that, most of the cattle rustled were stolen from the Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
He also disclosed that 45 rape cases linked to banditry were also recorded across the state .
The Commissioner further revealed that, more than 300 bandits were neutralized during aerial strike and numerous bandits camps were also destroyed across the state in 2021.
Responding Governor Nasiru Elrufai who commended the effort of security agencies, emphasized the need for urgent national effort to strengthen security kforces.
“The report presented today shows that in 2021, and an average of 9 persons were kidnapped daily across Kaduna State, mostly in the Kaduna Central senatorial district”
“There is also an escalation in the number of persons killed by a whopping 255 compared to those sadly killed by banditry and criminality in 2020 in spite of our best efforts in supporting the Federal security agencies to bring an end to this phenomenon”.
Elrufai said that, the military and police need modern technology, advanced armaments, equipments and more boots on the ground.
The Governor urged military, police and other security agencies to ensure coordinated actions and intensify simultaneous operations against terrorists until they are decimated to the point of surrender.
“As we digest these sad statistics, we pray for the repose of the souls of those killed, pay tribute to the victims of various crimes, reiterate our solidarity with them, and reaffirm our resolve to continue to protect our people, and stop the criminals”
“The victims of these outlaws cut across our state, though we note the persistence of certain narratives that try to coat sheer criminality in ethno-religious or regional hues, depending on the identity of the victims”
Governor Nasiru Elrufai however appealed to the Federal Government to create a Theatre Command similar to the situation in the North-East to confront the insurgency that has clearly emerged in five states of the North-West and Niger State with continuous and contiguous forest ranges.
“The creation of such a Theatre Command will enable holistic approach to counter-insurgent operations across the six affected states and the enhanced coordination of the resources of the Armed Forces, the Police, the SSS, our respective State Vigilance Services, hunters and other local volunteers to fight the insurgents.
The presentation of the security report was witnessed by the Deputy governor of the State Dr Hadiza Balarabe, Heads of various security agencies operating in the State, as well as other members of the state Excutive Council.
AMINU DALHATU