Bandits have opened fire on six commuters along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
He said the bandits, who were on the run from aggressive patrols by security agencies in the Birnin Gwari general area, took to the highway around Ungwan Dangedda, adding that as they retreated, they shot at several vehicles.
The driver of one commercial vehicle was said to have been hit and lost control of the vehicle, which somersaulted several times before coming to a stop.
According to the commissioner, the bandits then fled the location.
The six persons who died on the spot from the crash were identified as: Abdurrashid Ya’u, Sa’idu Ya’u, Suwaiba Ali, Sulaiman Ustaz, Ramatu Ya’u and an unidentified infant.
Meanwhile, the following persons suffered injuries – Ubale Yahuza, Rabiu Ibrahim, Umar Musa, Saude Yusuf, Mohammed Aminu and Kadima Mercy.
Reacting to the incident, Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness, praying for the repose of the souls of those who perished in the crash.
While commiserating with the families of the deceased, the governor wished speedy recovery to those injured.
In another development, a vigilance group rescue five kidnapped victims from bandits in Igabi Local Government Area, but the retreating bandits killed two persons.
The Internal Security Commissioner, Aruwan, said, local vigilantes were reported to have rescued five persons abducted by bandits from Ungwan Makada in Dutsen Abba Ward, Zaria Local Government Area.
According to the report, armed bandits stormed the village and attacked the residence of Abdulazeez Sani, a local government council member, and abducted his wife Samira Abdulazeez, two children Aliyu and Lawal Abdulazeez, and another woman, Halima M. Sani and her son.
The bandits also stole four motorcycles from the village.
“As the bandits made away with the hostages, they were intercepted by local vigilante members at Ungwan Mai Turmi village in Igabi local government area.
“The ensuing shootout forced the bandits to abandon their captives and beat a hasty retreat, enabling their rescue by the vigilantes.
“As they retreated, the bandits tore through Ungwan Hazo village in Zaria local government area, and there shot two persons dead: Musa Isah and Yusufa Suleiman.
“Two women sustained gunshot wounds in this attack. They are Hafsatu Isah and Fatima Suleiman.
“The rescued hostages have been reunited with their families, as security patrols continue in the area.
“Similarly, the management of Birnin Gwari local government has informed the Kaduna State Government that fourteen citizens kidnapped in a neighboring state have regained their freedom and have since been re-united with their families.
“In a separate incident, a herder, Abdullahi Dutse was shot and injured yesterday by unknown persons while grazing in Fada Daji, Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura local government. The Police are taking necessary steps to identify and apprehend the culprits.
“Governor El-Rufai thanked the Kagoro Chiefdom and other critical stakeholders for managing the situation, and appealed for calm.
“The governor urged all those aggrieved to maintain recourse to the law, assuring them that security agencies are working assiduously to solve the case,” Aruwan said.
Also, two persons were killed, and eight others sustained serious injuries in a road traffic crash along the Kaduna-Abuja road.
