A devastating ambush by armed bandits in Plateau State’s Kanam Local Government Area has claimed the lives of over 70 vigilante members. The attack occurred on Monday when a combined team of vigilantes from different formations in Wase Local Government Area were on their way to identify bandits’ hideouts in the government reserve forest, popularly known as Madam Forest, which shares borders with Bauchi and Taraba States.
According to eyewitnesses, the vigilantes were ambushed by heavily armed bandits just a kilometer away from Kukawa town. The bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, opened fire on the team, killing over 70 vigilantes on the spot. The vigilante Chairman, Aliyu Baffa, confirmed that the slain vigilantes were buried in a mass grave the same day, but feared that there could still be more dead bodies in the bushes as many members of his team are still missing and unaccounted for.
The attack resulted in significant casualties, with over 70 vigilantes killed in Kukawa alone. In a related incident, 10 additional vigilantes were killed in Bunyun village, where several houses were also razed by the attackers. Musa Ibrahim, a resident of Bunyun, confirmed the incident and expressed concern over the growing insecurity in the region.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the Plateau State Government or security agencies. However, residents are calling for urgent government intervention to prevent further bloodshed and restore peace in the region.
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Plateau State and neighboring areas. The lack of proper training and coordination among vigilante groups has been cited as a contributing factor to the high death toll. Security experts are urging the government to provide better support and training to local security operatives to tackle the growing threat of armed banditry.⁶
The ambush and killing of over 70 vigilante members in Plateau State is a stark reminder of the insecurity plaguing many parts of Nigeria. The government must take decisive action to address the root causes of banditry and provide adequate support to local security operatives to ensure the safety of communities.
