Terrorists burned down houses and killed 32 people in Kajuru villages, eliciting mixed reactions.
On Wednesday, June 9, 2022, Awemi Maisamari, the National President of Adara Development Association, claimed that terrorists used a helicopter to attack Adara community in Kaduna State, killing over 30 people.
Less than 24 hours later, Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, refuted the stories of terrorists attacking from the air, but stated that 32 villagers had been killed by militants who had entered the settlements.
He also provided a list of villages and the names of bandit victims.
Shehu Sani, a former Senator from Kaduna Central Senatorial District, who also corroborated the attack, expressed a different opinion. “I was on the phone with a Kajuru youth leader who confirmed the massacre of 32 persons in Kaduna by terrorists,” he claimed.
“The alleged chopper may not have belonged to the terrorists, but it declined to act against them when they were slaughtering and burning down houses,” he claimed.
Read Also: N6bn fraud: Mompha disobey court order, travelled to Dubai, according to EFCC
Other prominent Nigerians who spoke out on the matter argued the state administration should have released verified information rather than relying on military and security agents’ feedback.
Dr. Moses Daniel, a former lecturer at the Nigeria Defence Academy’s Department of Conflict, Peace, and Strategic Studies, argued that press releases often serve solely to defuse tension and blind residents to a critical issue.
Yes, a government press statement and government officials are employed to defuse tensions. However, government officials must conduct independent verifications to get to the bottom of the matter. Security operatives have no way of disclosing their flaws, therefore they try to hide them.” he stated
“Consider an element of reality in whispers of war circulated by three or four people all saying the same thing.”
He also cautioned the Kaduna State government to be wary of what some reputable sources tell them, and to always be aware of certain situations.
Dr. Mohammed Musa, former Head of Department, Political Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, puzzled how the NAF helicopter, which was hovering in the air, could not arrest or shoot bandits, but only hear the stories of 32 innocent people and villagers, and what happened to over 150 terrorists?
Read Also: Tinubu: Real Reason why Buhari did not impose Consensus Presidential Candidate
“At the very least, the NAF helicopter is on the air, seeing everything, even if the bandits aren’t present at the area of the incident; from the air, it’s quite easy to watch and monitor terrorists fleeing in all directions.” What have the NAF helicopter’s security operatives done to terrorists? Have they been apprehended or assassinated?
He expressed his sorrow over the deaths of 32 people and warned that if the terrorists are not apprehended quickly, they will attack another area.
