The Kaduna State government says a total of 1,192 people were killed by bandits and 3,348 people were abducted across the state in 2021.
The figures were contained in the January to December 2021 security situation report presented by the state Commissioner Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, to the State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday.
The government said among those killed were 1,038 men, 104 women and 50 minors.
Mr. Aruwan said Kaduna Central Senatorial District recorded 720 deaths from banditry, communal clashes, violence attacks and reprisal attacks, while Southern Kaduna Senatorial District accounted for 406 deaths due to communal clashes alongside banditry.
Receiving the reports, the state Governor Nasir El-rufai appealed to the Federal Government to create a theatre command similar to the situation in the North-East to confront the insurgency that has engulfed the North-West and Niger State with continuous and contiguous forest ranges.
He said, “Kaduna State Government appeals to the Federal Government to create a Theatre Command similar to the situation in the North-East to confront the insurgency that has clearly emerged in five states of the North-West and Niger State with continuous and contiguous forest ranges.
“The creation of such a Theatre Command will enable holistic approach to counter-insurgent operations across the six affected states and the enhanced coordination of the resources of the Armed Forces, the Police, the SSS, our respective State Vigilance Services, hunters and other local volunteers to fight the insurgents.”