Bandits Invade Bauchi State Communities, Kill 15, Injure Many

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Bauchi State Police Command, on Monday, May 5, 2025, said that special operatives drawn from the Tactical Team have been  deployed to Mansur area in Alkaleri Local Council of the State to beef up security following a dawn attack by suspected banditry elements.

The Source reports that the surprise and coordinated attacks on Mansur, Digare Sabuwar Sara ,and Yalo, resulted in the death of about 15  persons, with many others said to be seriously injured.

Eye witness accounts, mostly from locals who survived the attack said the hoodlums ambushed the residents of the affected communities while they were asleep between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning,  thus, residents had little or no opportunities to  effectively defend themselves.

Locals who volunteered comments said most of the casualties were members of the local Vigilante groups who have been over seeing the protection of the communities.

There are widespread beliefs that the deadly attacks may have been masterminded by banditry elements from neighbouring States of Gombe, Taraba and Plateau states who are said to be often engaged in cross border activities within the North East and North Central regions.

The attackers who were said to be heavily armed  opened fire indiscriminately on both members of the vigilante on patrol and civilians resulting  in  heavy casualty figures.

The Bauchi State Police Command in a statement on Monday, while condemning the incident also informed that efforts are underway to track down those behind the dastardly act.

The State Commissioner of Police, Sani Omolori Aliyu, described the attack as  “utterly reprehensible and a significant threat to the peace and security of the State.

On a visit to the affected communities he reaffirmed the unflinching commitment of the Service towards exploring all options in apprehending the perpetrators.

According to the statement issued by the Command’s spokesman, Ahmed Wakili, the bandits struck while local hunters and members of the local vigilante group were out  on the field on a route patrol of the forest corridors between Bauchi and Plateau states.

He noted that the resultant direct confrontation by both sides explain the high

casualty figures recorded.

“Upon receiving the report, a team of operational tactical operatives was dispatched to the scene where they recovered the bodies of the dead.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased include both quasi-security operatives and civilians from Sabuwar Sara village who were mercilessly shot by the bandits while attempting to flee from the attack” the police stated.