Days After Kaduna Massacre, 180 Almajiri Still Missing
The brutal attacks on the villages of Riheya, Kauran Pawa, and Marke in the Giwa local government area of Kaduna state left many families in pain and agony.
Recall that armed bandits stormed the villages on December 19, 2021, shooting sporadically, killing more than forty people. As a result, the corpses were buried in mass graves.
The bandits reportedly abused women while looting shops, burning houses, and foodstuffs, forcing many villagers to flee and vacate their comfortable homes.
The terrorist group abducted an unspecified number of people while almajiri students numbered about one hundred and eighty (180) are still missing.
Missing 180 Almajiri Students
The headteacher of the almajiri schools, Nuhu Umar Riheya, laments the missing almajiri students since their villages were attacked by armed bandits.
Mal Umar told Daily Episode correspondents that the terrorists destroyed houses and forced several locals to follow them.
According to him, the almajiri students were frightened as it was their first time encountering such incidents, so they ran helter-skelter to avoid being killed.
Umar expressed worry as the Almajiri students were yet to return, days after the mass abduction, and they were nowhere to be found.
The villagers cried in-demand of security for fear of repeated attacks
Residents of Kauran Pawa village appeal to the government to deploy troops in their village and neighboring communities as the bandits threaten to carry out more attacks.
Abdullahi Mamuda Kauran Powa noted that the terrorists attacked their community in broad daylight. Several people were brutally killed, and the bandits operated for hours without the response of security operatives, despite several calls and efforts to reach them.
They also criticize the state governor, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-rufai, for visiting Fatika rather than visiting the affected communities.
The untold story of the victims
However, Ahmed Umar, who lost his brother, expresses fear while recounting how he escaped after hiding in a neighbor’s house.
In addition, Ahmed saw more than three hundred bandits on motorbikes while hearing their leader command them to commit injustices like killings, looting, and burning houses, cars, and bikes. He added
Maimuna Suleiman, a nursing mother who was abused by the bandits, recounts how she was beaten and robbed of the sum of twenty thousand Naira.
I just gave birth two days ago. While resting on the bed, I heard people shouting and chanting. Armed bandits invaded our village.
I suddenly picked up my baby and began to run until I couldn’t run anymore. I was fortunate to enter one house where the bandits broke the door, abused us by beating and collecting money from us while threatening to kill our husbands and children. She added.
The Kaduna state government confirmed the attacks on both Riheya, Kauran Pawa, and Marke in the Giwa local government area of the state.
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