Gunmen on Sunday killed three worshippers and injured four others in an attack on two religious centres in Kaduna State, the Maranatha Baptist Church and St. Moses Catholic Church in Rubu Village, Kajuru.
Also, head of Anguwar Fada, whose name could not be immediately verified, was reportedly killed and unspecified number of worshippers were reportedly abducted by the armed men before they left the community.
The victims identified as Peter Madaki, a ward head of Ungwan Fada: Elisha Ezekiel, a resident of Ungwan Fada; and Ali Zamani, a youth leader of Rubu, among several worshippers, who were attacked at the close of the church service by the gunmen.
A resident of the community simply identified as Maigari, narrated the incident, saying: “The bandits came on motorcycles and attacked our people shortly after closing from church service. The two communities attacked were inside Rubu village. The ward head of Anguwar Fada community is among those killed,”
Maigari said many worshippers escaped through the nearby bush.
Confirming the incident, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Homes Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the gunmen first attacked Ungwan Fada and later moved to Ungwan Turawa, Ungwan Makama and Rubu village.
Explaining that the bandits looted shops and carted away some valuables from the attacked villages, Aruwan said: “On a sad note, security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State Government that bandits attacked worshippers and locals at Ungwan Fada, Ungwan Tarawa, and Ungwan Makama in Rubu general area of Kajuru local government area.
“Receiving the report, the Acting Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, expressed deep sadness and condemned the attack in the strongest terms. She sent her sincere condolences to the families of the deceased victims, as she prayed for the repose of their souls.”
He, however, said security patrols had been deployed to the areas.