Troops of Operation Safe Haven have reported to the Kaduna State Government, the discovery of 10 dead cows in Mabuhu village, Zangon Kataf local government area. The dead cattle belonged to the two herders whose corpses were found in the area on Tuesday.
It would be recalled that the corpses of two herders, Yusuf Ahmadu and Mustapha Bako were found in the village, after they took their cattle out to graze and then went missing. Some of the cattle were later seen wandering unattended, bearing gunshot wounds.
The herders were killed in a reprisal attack following the killing of five residents of Kurmin Gandu village, listed as follows:
- Ishaya Aboi
Regina Ishaya
Goodluck Dauda
Joseph Adamu
Hassan Joseph
Following the discovery of the herders’ corpses, a search was conducted during which 10 of the missing cows were found dead. According to the report, 11 cows remain unaccounted for. The search is ongoing.
Citizens in the area are urged to report sightings of any wandering cattle to the nearest security agency, or call the Kaduna State Security Operations Room on 09034000060 or 08170189999.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai noted the report with thanks, and commended the troops for the thorough search.
Going further, he expressed distress at the disturbing killing and counter-killing in the area despite the deployment of security assets and the ardent efforts of the Atyap Chiefdom Peace and Security Partnership Committee. He noted with concern, the killing of five residents of Kurmin Gandu, just days before the herders’ corpses were found.
He further described the killing and counter-killing as unjustifiable and a setback to balanced development.
The Governor re-affirmed that despite the worrisome situation, Government would remain steadfastly committed to peace initiatives, and other efforts to entrench peaceful coexistence among all groups within the local government and other areas.
