Three persons were killed in a terrorist attack in a church in Roboh village, Kajuru LGA, Kaduna State on Sunday, June 19, 2022. About 36 worshippers were reportedly kidnapped by the terrorists.
A former Special Adviser on Media to the Governor of Kaduna State, Reuben Buhari, said that the attack in the area was not the first. He said, “attacks on rural communities by kidnappers have been going on without respite. Most go unannounced, unreported.
“The attack on Roboh village, Kajuru LGA today (Sunday) where 36 people were kidnapped and 3 killed wasn’t the first attack. On 5th January 2022, it was attacked and some kidnapped. On 27 April, 2020, the community was attacked again and this time some houses were burnt. Then the attack of today, 19 June, 2022.”
He added that the continuous attacks in the community and its environs made “the people in the village decided to start holding church services early by 7am so that people can hurriedly go back to their homes.
“It was some few minutes after 7am today, while both the Catholic and Baptist churches were holding their services when the kidnappers attacked.”
He also narrated the ordeal of those who were abducted. He said, “I spoke to a man whose wife, mother and daughter were taken from the Baptist church today. The anguish in his voice is something none of us should experience. The worrisome part of the insecurity is that most in Roboh have difficulties cultivating their farms.
“Moreover, because villages like Bakin Gada, Ungwan Pada, Maikori, Dogon noma, that surround Roboh have all been attacked at different times, people find it difficult to venture far to their farms.”
“Now, this man and others would wait for the kidnappers to call and ask for ransom. They would start borrowing, begging and selling anything to raise the ransom.”
The Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, also confirmed the attack. He issued a statement on Sunday saying that the terrorists attacked the villages on motorcycles and unleashed terror on the worshippers.
The statement read in part, “In Rubu village, the bandits attacked worshippers in the Maranatha Baptist Church and St. Moses Catholic Church.
Three locals were confirmed killed in the attacks. They were identified as Peter Madaki (Ward head of Ungwan Fada), Elisha Ezekiel (Resident of Ungwan Fada) and Ali Zamani (Youth leader of Rubu).
“Two persons were left injured in the attacks: one Aniro Mai, and a yet-unidentified woman. An unspecified number of locals were also kidnapped, according to the received reports.”
“The bandits looted shops and carted away some valuables from the villages.”
“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.”
“The Acting Governor also commiserated with the attacked churches, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. Security patrols were being conducted in the general area as investigations proceeded.”
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