Suspected bandits have killed seven villagers in a reprisal attack on Thursday in Kuyello Ward, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Daily Trust gathered that the incident followed the killing of a suspected bandit four days earlier.

The deceased was said to have been terrorizing local miners in the area before being confronted and killed by the local miners.

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However, in a reprisal attack, the bandits stormed the Layin Dan Auta area of Kuyello Ward, shooting sporadically and killing seven residents, including two women.

A youth leader in Kuyello area, who simply identified himself as  Muhammadu Baba, explained the circumstances leading to the attack.

“There was this bandit that had been terrorizing the local miners each time they closed from work by seizing their items. They complained to his master, but no action was taken. So they decided to kill him. They also confiscated his motorcycle and gun.

“Later, the bandits demanded the return of the motorcycle and the gun, but our vigilantes refused to release them. So they came on a revenge mission, killing people in the village, including two women.”

“About eight others sustained gunshot wounds and are presently receiving treatment at the hospital,” he added.

According to him, those killed were not the miners involved in the earlier incident, but innocent villagers from Layin Dan Auta in Kuyello.

He added that while the community is currently calm, residents remain on high alert in case the attackers return.

There are also reports suggesting that the slain bandit was from Zamfara State and had come to the area to extort a monetary levy from illegal miners.

When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the attack, adding that the command had deployed additional personnel to the area to prevent further violence.

He further explained that the attackers came from neighboring Zamfara and Katsina States, but the prompt response of security operatives helped contain the situation.