Armed bandits on Tuesday invaded Bakali village in Fatika district of Giwa local government area, Kaduna state killing 21 villagers, 11 of the victims were members of the same family who were burnt alive.
A community leader and head of the family of the burnt 11 victims, Malam Sani Bakali told journalists that the incident occurred at around 4pm on Tuesday.
He said, “The bandits stormed our village on several motorbikes, brandishing AK47 riffles. Immediately they came, they started moving round the village, shooting sporadically. In the process, they came to our house and set it ablaze, with 11 people inside. All the 11 people were members of my family. They included three women and eight children, who were wives and children of my three younger brothers.
“They also killed two of my uncles. While on the bush path, we discovered four other bodies burnt to death. They equally killed two imams, one of them was my neighbour and a close friend.“We just performed the funeral prayer for the victims this afternoon (Wednesday). Initially, it was 20 bodies that we buried before we later discovered one more body inside the bush, and we buried him too.
“Right now, people have fled the village. I am the only one left because I have come to pick something. I just took one of my brothers and his two wives to Zaria. I am about leaving now myself.“Apart from those killed, there are nine people we are yet to see since after the incident. As it is now, we don’t know whether they have been killed or not.”
The Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhamnad Jalige, who confirmed the attack said the casualty figures are yet to be ascertained.
“There was an attack in Giwa, Bakali village to be precise, and we have sent a team of police officers and men there to ascertain the situation of things. We are going to get across to you as soon as we have the details” he said.
