TheCable

The Kaduna government says strangers seen moving across some villages in the state are migrant herders and not bandits as suspected.

Kaduna is one of the states worst hit by banditry, with near-daily attacks being reported by the government and a number of school abductions in recent months.

Owing to the fear of attacks, residents of the state are often on high alert when there is suspicious movement in their communities.

In a statement on Thursday, Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna commissioner for internal security, said distress calls were received about the movement of the strangers in Kagarko LGA.

He said security operatives were immediately deployed and the found that the strangers were herders returning to their original stations.

“Security agencies have confirmed to the Kaduna State Government that a group of migrating persons sighted around Tafa village in Kagarko local government area, were identified as a band of traveling herders,” the statement read.

“This followed several distress calls from citizens on movement of armed bandits in the Lambata-Kabbo area of Tafa village, in Kagarko local government area.

“In response to the reports, troops and Police operatives were mobilized to the area for confirmation and possible engagement.

“The troops trailed the group to an open field at Toba village, Tafa, Niger State.

“Upon confirmatory checks, it was discovered that they were herders in transit from Dobi in Gwagwalada (FCT) and Gawu-Babangida, Lambata (Niger State) to their original stations in Jos, Plateau State and Bauchi, Bauchi State.

“A head-count was conducted by the troops, which revealed 53 herders in the traveling party: 9 adult male, 7 young male, and 37 women and children.”

He said a thorough inspection showed that the herders had three motorcycles, and no dangerous or incriminating materials were found in their possession.