No fewer than seven people were killed in
Jangal in Kamantan chiefdom of Zangon
Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna
State on Wednesday when a lone gunman
opened fire on residents of the community
during a celebration.
About 14 people also sustained injuries from
gunshots during the incident, which was said
to have occurred at 10.25 pm on Tuesday.
The attack occurred just as the state
Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Yero, commenced
his campaign for the February governorship
election in the southern part of the state.
Narrating how the incident happened in an
interview with THISDAY on Wednesday in
Zonkwa, the National President of Kamantan
Development Association, Mr. Markus
Fangan, said the community was celebrating
the passage of an old woman, as their
custom demands, when the gunman in the
company of another person who was not
armed arrived at the venue at 9.25pm.
“We lost an aged woman. She was over 80
years. She died on Tuesday morning and was
buried the same day. In our tradition, when
somebody who has aged dies, we normally
thank God for the long life by celebrating.
“So after the burial, the grandchildren of the
deceased and members of the community
were eating and dancing which lasted till
evening.
“As the people were dancing, two Fulani men
appeared at the event at 9.25 pm. One was
carrying a gun, the other person was not
armed.
“The one with the gun suddenly opened fire at
the crowd and was shooting rapidly. The
people started running. One of the young
men, named Monday Kote, summoned
courage and went and grabbed the man, who
was not armed.
“Kote threw him on the ground and was
shouting, asking people to come and help
him. But nobody went to help him as people
were terrified and were running away.
“As Kote was struggling with the man, the
one with the gun came back and fired at him.
Luckily, the bullet brushed him around his
ear, so he ran for his dear life. That was how
the two Fulani men escaped,” Fangan said.
He disclosed that seven people were killed,
while 14 others sustained injuries from
gunshots, adding that nine of those injured
were rushed to Jos for medical attention,
while four others were taken to St. Louis
Catholic Hospital in Zonkwa.
He said his community had been living
peacefully with the Fulanis for a long time
without any problem, wondering why they
decided to attack the community.
“There is no record of any problem between
our people and the
Fulanis in our community. We are shocked at
this kind of aggression against us. Our
communities must begin to protect
themselves because the security personnel
cannot be everywhere,” he said.
Also reacting to the attack in an interview,
the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Zangon
Kataf, Hon. Jonathan Asake, confirmed that
seven people were killed, while 12 others were
injured.
“I got the report of the attack and I drove
there. I was in the village around 11.00 pm. I
was approaching my village, Angwan Rimi
after I left the office, when I got a distress
call about the attack.
“I immediately got in touch with the police,
the SSS and the commander of the Military
Task Force here; we went with them to the
village that night. We met hundreds of angry
youths,” Asake said.
He called on communities in the area to take
the issue of their security very seriously,
stressing that it is not possible for
government to deploy security personnel in
every village.
He further cautioned the youths in the area
against the dangers of alcholism and
consumption of narcotic drugs.
“A situation where youths get drunk and
cannot defend their communities during these
attacks but resort to attacking people that go
to help them is unfortunate and it must stop.
I say this because they almost lynched us
when we went there at night,” he said.
He further called on communities to stop
celebrations that last till night in view of the
security challenges in the area, adding that
people must provide for their security during
such occasions.
Yero, in a statement by his media aide,
Ahmed Maiyaki, condemned the attack and
directed that the medical bills of victims be
settled by the government.
Jangal in Kamantan chiefdom of Zangon
Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna
State on Wednesday when a lone gunman
opened fire on residents of the community
during a celebration.
About 14 people also sustained injuries from
gunshots during the incident, which was said
to have occurred at 10.25 pm on Tuesday.
The attack occurred just as the state
Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Yero, commenced
his campaign for the February governorship
election in the southern part of the state.
Narrating how the incident happened in an
interview with THISDAY on Wednesday in
Zonkwa, the National President of Kamantan
Development Association, Mr. Markus
Fangan, said the community was celebrating
the passage of an old woman, as their
custom demands, when the gunman in the
company of another person who was not
armed arrived at the venue at 9.25pm.
“We lost an aged woman. She was over 80
years. She died on Tuesday morning and was
buried the same day. In our tradition, when
somebody who has aged dies, we normally
thank God for the long life by celebrating.
“So after the burial, the grandchildren of the
deceased and members of the community
were eating and dancing which lasted till
evening.
“As the people were dancing, two Fulani men
appeared at the event at 9.25 pm. One was
carrying a gun, the other person was not
armed.
“The one with the gun suddenly opened fire at
the crowd and was shooting rapidly. The
people started running. One of the young
men, named Monday Kote, summoned
courage and went and grabbed the man, who
was not armed.
“Kote threw him on the ground and was
shouting, asking people to come and help
him. But nobody went to help him as people
were terrified and were running away.
“As Kote was struggling with the man, the
one with the gun came back and fired at him.
Luckily, the bullet brushed him around his
ear, so he ran for his dear life. That was how
the two Fulani men escaped,” Fangan said.
He disclosed that seven people were killed,
while 14 others sustained injuries from
gunshots, adding that nine of those injured
were rushed to Jos for medical attention,
while four others were taken to St. Louis
Catholic Hospital in Zonkwa.
He said his community had been living
peacefully with the Fulanis for a long time
without any problem, wondering why they
decided to attack the community.
“There is no record of any problem between
our people and the
Fulanis in our community. We are shocked at
this kind of aggression against us. Our
communities must begin to protect
themselves because the security personnel
cannot be everywhere,” he said.
Also reacting to the attack in an interview,
the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Zangon
Kataf, Hon. Jonathan Asake, confirmed that
seven people were killed, while 12 others were
injured.
“I got the report of the attack and I drove
there. I was in the village around 11.00 pm. I
was approaching my village, Angwan Rimi
after I left the office, when I got a distress
call about the attack.
“I immediately got in touch with the police,
the SSS and the commander of the Military
Task Force here; we went with them to the
village that night. We met hundreds of angry
youths,” Asake said.
He called on communities in the area to take
the issue of their security very seriously,
stressing that it is not possible for
government to deploy security personnel in
every village.
He further cautioned the youths in the area
against the dangers of alcholism and
consumption of narcotic drugs.
“A situation where youths get drunk and
cannot defend their communities during these
attacks but resort to attacking people that go
to help them is unfortunate and it must stop.
I say this because they almost lynched us
when we went there at night,” he said.
He further called on communities to stop
celebrations that last till night in view of the
security challenges in the area, adding that
people must provide for their security during
such occasions.
Yero, in a statement by his media aide,
Ahmed Maiyaki, condemned the attack and
directed that the medical bills of victims be
settled by the government.
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