Nigerian military intensifies security in troubled northern state

ABUJA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's military on Wednesday said it is intensifying Security in the troubled northern state of Kaduna where scores of people have been killed in the past one month.

In a statement, Air Force spokesman Ibikunle Daramola said the military will sustain its air patrol in Kaduna and its environs while partnering with other Security agencies.

"The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will sustain its aerial surveillance coupled with armed vehicular patrols along the highway, rail line and other areas in the state to ensure the Security of citizens as well as safe travels for law-abiding commuters," Ibikunle said.

The military's patrol will be extended to identified hotspots and flashpoints along the Abuja-Kaduna highway linking the northwestern state to the Nigerian capital Abuja.

The military spokesman said that the Abuja-Kaduna Highway had been susceptible to the activities of armed robbers and kidnappers.

Kaduna state is one of the states witnessing a number of attacks recently in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country.

Unidentified gunmen attacked eight villages in Kajuru area of the state on February 15, leading to more than 130 deaths. On February 27, four villages in the same area again were attacked by gunmen, with 29 people killed, including a policeman.

The police on Monday also confirmed that 16 people were killed by gunmen in another attack on a village in the troubled Kaduna State.

Following the killings, the government of Kaduna has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the Kajuru area starting on Wednesday.

State government spokesman Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed this to Xinhua, said the curfew would be from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily until further notice.

The government has directed Security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of the curfew. Enditem