Deadly Ambush by Bandits Kill Several Vigilantes Near Bauchi-Plateau border
A deadly ambush by armed bandits has claimed the lives of several local vigilante members during a patrol near the Bauchi–Plateau border, according to the Bauchi State Police Command.
Police spokesperson Ahmed Wakil confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, revealing that the attack took place in the early hours of Saturday, May 4. The assault occurred as a joint team of community hunters from Duguri and Gwana Districts conducted a routine patrol along the forested stretch of Duguri, Mansur, and Dajin Madam.
“At about 5:40 a.m., the team encountered a deadly ambush laid by suspected armed bandits. The confrontation led to multiple casualties on both sides, including members of the vigilante group and some of the attackers,” Wakil stated.
The incident was formally reported at around 9:40 a.m. at the Alkaleri Divisional Headquarters. In response, a tactical police unit was swiftly deployed to the scene to assess the situation and recover the remains of those killed.
Preliminary investigations confirmed that the deceased included several vigilantes and civilians from Sabuwar Sara village, some of whom were shot while attempting to flee.
In the aftermath, Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, visited local leaders in the affected communities to express his condolences and reassure residents. He condemned the attack in the strongest terms, labelling it “an outrageous assault on peace and a grave threat to the state’s security.”
Aliyu has since ordered a full-scale manhunt, assigning a special operations team to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“The Command remains committed to restoring safety and order to the area,” Wakil affirmed, adding that efforts are ongoing to prevent further attacks.
