Sola Ojo, Kaduna

Residents of Ungwan Barde, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State  were, once again, thrown into mourning as armed men stormed the village at wee hours of yesterday,  killing and burning houses.

This came barely three weeks after an attack said to have left 11 persons dead at Ungwan Barde, Kufana district, and subsequent reprisals allegedly claimed 130 lives at Maro settlement, all within Kajuru l council area of the state,

Of recent, there have been killings and destruction of properties among the two major communities; the Adara and Fulani.

This was despite several appeals for calm and presence of combined security personnel at Ungwan Magani within the same local government area.

“Our village, Ungwan Barde, is under attack again. The armed men came early this morning killing people and burning houses. I can’t tell you how many people have been affected because the attack is ongoing,” a survivor told Daily Sun, yesterday.

Meanwhile, Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned the attack in strong terms, and appealled for calm in the area.

The governor’s condemnation and appeal message to communities was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan.

“The Kaduna State Government has confirmed, with sadness, an attack, this morning, on Ungwan Barde community in Kajuru local government, by bandits. The government condemns this violent attack and extends its sympathy to the community and the families of the victims.

“Heads of security agencies in Kaduna State have informed Governor El-Rufai of an attack on Ungwan Barde community, by unknown bandits, today, March 10, 2019. The government condemns this violent attack and extends its sympathy to the families of the victims and the entire community.

“The security agencies have informed the governor that measures are being taken to contain the situation and to secure the general area.

“More troops have been deployed to the community, while the Nigerian Air Force personnel are carrying out aerial surveillance and reconnaissance.

“The security agencies will provide further updates, just as the governor has directed the state Emergency Management Agency to proceed to the community for immediate assessment and delivery of relief materials.”