Many villagers were killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in Kajuru local government of Kaduna state, less than twenty four hours to the purposed presidential and parliamentary elections.
The attack occurred on Monday and was a reprisal after an earlier incident that left many dead, a resident said.
Gov. Nasir el-Rufai on Friday announced the recovery of 66 bodies on the eve of the now-postponed general elections, leading many to believe the killings took place that day.
Mr el-Rufai said the victims were killed by “criminal elements” in various dispersed hamlets in the Maro Gida and Iri axis of Kajuru LGA.
The settlements affected include Ruga Bahago, Ruga Daku, Ruga Ori, Ruga Haruna, Ruga Yukka Abubakar, Ruga Duni Kadiri, Ruga Shewuka and Ruga Shuaibu Yau, he said.
It was reported that Operation Yaki said that a patrol team of 15 soldiers that accompanied Fulani residents of the area, who were searching for their missing siblings, found the 66 bodies, amongst them women and children. They also saw several properties destroyed.