The Kaduna state government has confirmed the killing of 19 persons in Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government area of the state.

The citizens were killed by armed bandits at Kutemeshi village in Birnin Gwari and Kujene village in Kajuru leaving several others with bullet wounds.

The commissioner of internal security and home affairs Mr Samuel Aruwan confirm this in a statement on Sunday saying both attacks happen on Saturday.

He added that some of the wounded victims have been taken to a neighbouring state for urgent attention while others were brought to an orthopaedic hospital in Kaduna town.

Our correspondent Bosan Yakusak noted that the attackers burnt several houses, storehouses with foodstuffs, warehouses loaded with building materials and a church.