By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
No fewer than 35 persons have been killed in the Southern Kaduna area of Kaduna, and Katsina states
Of the figure, 17, including a policeman, were reportedly killed in Zangon-Kataf communities in Southern Kaduna.
Eighteen persons were killed in Kankara council area of Katsina State.
The Nation learned that trouble started in the Zangon-Kataf area on Thursday when a young herder was tied to a tree and killed by some locals around Ungwan Juju
Our correspondent also learnt that the situation became compounded on Saturday afternoon following a misunderstanding between security operatives and some Fulani men at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili, which led to a Fulani man and a policeman being shot at a checkpoint
Later that evening, a group of local youths, who went fishing, were attacked and one of them was said to have been killed with machetes by the retaliating herders.
A senior military source from the area told our correspondent: “On Thursday last week, one Umar Sambo (a herder) was killed while returning from grazing his cattle around Ungwan Juju in Zangon Kataf LGA.
“When his brother, identified as Safiyanu, could not find him, he reported to the security agencies, who then launched a search operation. His body was finally discovered at Ungwan,” the source said.
He said the tense security situation became compounded on Saturday evening, when there was a clash between security operatives and some Fulani at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili, which led to the death of a Fulani man and a policeman.
According to him, “Ungwan Wakili village of Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf LGA was attacked by unidentified persons around 8:40pm on Saturday, in an apparent reprisal following the killing of the herder.”
He said troops of Operation Safe Haven mobilised to the village to repel the attack, but about 16 to 17 persons were already killed, with seven persons wounded.
“Also worthy of note is that, after after a policeman accidentally shot and injured a herder and a colleague at the checkpoint at Ungwan Wakili Junction, a mob action occurred in Ungwan Wakili.
While the police evacuated the area, a crowd of locals and herders gathered at the scene, and in the confrontation that followed, one local was killed. Two motorcycles belonging to herders were burnt,” the security source explained.
The local government authorities have imposed a 24-hour curfew in the affected communities to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
In Katsina, 18 villagers were feared killed on Saturday night in Kankara Local Government Area when suspected terrorists clashed with local vigilantes
Findings revealed that communities where the clashes occured include: Majifa, Gurbi, Danmarke, Gidan-Anchor, Gidan- Saika,Dan- Mangoro and Gidan- Sale.
It was learnt that while five people were killed in Gurbi, 13 people were killed at Majifa,Makera and Gidan Jifau settlements.
Many injured persons were being treated at the General hospital,kankara as at yesterday afternoon, it was said.
Police spokesman Gambo Isah said he could only confirm the clash at Majifa, but added that details were sketchy.
