Family of seven wiped out in Kaduna attack & buried together

The family of seven wiped out in Manyi Akuru village, near Manchok, Kaura local government area of Kaduna State following an attack by gunmen alleged to be Fulani herdsmen were buried today.

Armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen reportedly arrived in cars and on motorbikes, burst into the family's house in Unguwar Kajit, a village in the mainly Christian part of Kaduna state, and opened fire, locals said

They killed the family of seven in the early morning attack in Ungwar Kajit village of Manchok in Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria.

Indigenes of the community said that the gunmen began their operation around 1am on Friday morning. Armed Policemen and soldiers stationed in the area arrived at the scene hours later, but the killers had escaped before their arrival.

"Christian youth provoked by the attack, which they blamed on Fulani Muslims, later mobilised and launched reprisal attacks, burning mosques and houses," youth leader Emmanuel Zadiok told newsmen.

One person in a mosque died as it went up in flames, said Muslim resident Mohammed Yakub, confirming Zadiok's account.

[The family of seven were buried together this afternoon. Photo credit Sabo Douglas Finestdj who said: "Tell them to stop killing our people"]

Kaduna state governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has ordered an investigation. 

He condemned the attack and "prayed that God 

The State Governor, Mukhtar Yero, who cancelled all his official engagements, also visited the community where he described the attack as ungodly and condemnable.

The rampaging gunmen were said to have killed Mr. Sunday Abin, 47 and his tongue was removed, while his wife and their five children were said to have been mutilated with machetes.

Several people were said to have sustained injuries from gunshots, while many houses and food stuffs were reportedly set ablaze.

A statement signed by the Governor’s spokesman, Ahmed Maiyaki, said that Governor Yero, who was visibly shocked by the unfortunate incident, called on people of the community to remain calm as Government would scale up its strategies to improve security, especially in border communities.

There were fears among the villagers that there was likelihood of an increase in the death toll.