Armed men suspected to be bandits launched a deadly attack on Saturday night, killing several vigilante members and civilians in a coordinated assault on three villages in Gwana District, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
It was gathered that the affected communities—Mansur, Digare, Sabuwar Sara, and Yalo—were ambushed while residents were asleep.
Most of the victims were members of local vigilante groups from Gwana and Duguri Districts, who had been safeguarding their communities from repeated attacks along the volatile borders of Gombe, Plateau, and Taraba States.
Sources reported that the assailants, heavily armed and ruthless, opened fire indiscriminately, catching the villages off guard in the middle of the night.
This latest attack is part of a troubling pattern of violence in the region, which has included killings, cattle rustling, and growing insecurity.
It has drawn the attention of Governor Bala Mohammed and top security officials, who have visited the area for assessments.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident but has yet to provide an official death toll.
Police Commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu, during a visit to the affected areas, described the assault as “utterly reprehensible” and a significant threat to public safety.
He ordered the immediate deployment of tactical teams and vowed a sustained manhunt for the attackers.
Police spokesperson Ahmed Wakil, in a statement on Monday, said the ambush occurred during a routine patrol by local hunters along the Bauchi–Plateau forest corridor.
The confrontation resulted in casualties on both sides, including fleeing civilians and community defenders.
