The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, confirmed that 360 people were killed between January and March 2022 through banditry.The commissioner disclosed this when he presented the 2022 First Quarter Report on security to the state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday in Kaduna.
He said that 1,389 persons were kidnapped during the period under review within Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
Aruwan said 3,251 animals were rustled during the period, out of which 3,137 were stolen from Kaduna Central, accounting for 97 percent of the total. 
“Some 41 bandits were neutralized by the ground force while more than 60 were neutralized through various airstrikes carried out at identified bandit camps within the state.“Arms intercepted included 18 AK47 rifles, 7 sub-machine guns, 5 pump action rifles and ammunition which includes 22 AK47 magazines, 254 pump action cartridges, and 1,195 rounds of live ammunition,’’ he said.
“The state government will continue to seek the active collaboration of citizens in its efforts against banditry and all forms of insecurity through the volunteering of useful information on suspicious activities,’’ he added.
The commissioner said that bandits and other criminals carried out their attacks under the influence of various substances, adding that the purchase of drugs by bandits constitutes a major component of their expenditure.Aruwa further stated that the NDLEA, during the period, arrested several suspected drug traffickers and users, including 223 males and 8 females.“The state government will continue to collaborate with federal security agencies and stakeholders in their operations and support respectively within the state.“The state government further called for the establishment of a theatre to tackle terrorism and banditry in the Northwest, just like what exists in the Northeast,’’ he said.
